How to choose a breast augmentation surgeon

The short answer: check that your surgeon is on the GMC Specialist Register for plastic surgery, that you meet the surgeon who will actually operate, that surgery takes place in a CQC-registered hospital, that your implants will be recorded on the national registry, and that you know exactly who looks after you afterwards. Price should come last on the list, not first.

I appreciate that is an easy thing for a surgeon to say. So here are the specific checks I would make myself, and the questions I am happy to be asked.

1. Check the GMC Specialist Register

Any doctor practising in the UK must be registered with the General Medical Council. But for cosmetic surgery, you want more than basic registration. Look for a surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register for plastic surgery. You can check this yourself on the GMC website using the surgeon’s name or GMC number. Mine is 6114710.

Membership of professional bodies such as BAPRAS, the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, is another useful sign of training and standards.

2. Meet the surgeon who will operate

Your first consultation should be with the surgeon, not a sales adviser. Ask directly: will you personally perform my operation? I always do, and I arrange at least two consultations before breast augmentation, so there is time to think and plan properly.

3. Ask where the surgery will happen

It should be a CQC-registered hospital, with overnight care available. Breast augmentation takes about one and a half hours under general anaesthetic, and you stay one night.

4. Ask about the implants

• Which implant do you recommend for me, and why?
• Will it be registered on the Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry? Every implant I use is.
• What do you tell patients about BIA-ALCL, the rare lymphoma linked mainly to textured implants?
• How long do you expect the implants to last, and what happens if I need further surgery one day?

A good surgeon will choose the implant around your chest width and skin, not around a cup size you have picked from a chart.

5. Ask about aftercare

Who do you call at two in the morning if something feels wrong? How many follow-up appointments are included? I offer support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week while you recover, and follow-up appointments are part of the package.

6. Get everything in writing

You should receive a written quote showing exactly what is included: surgeon, anaesthetist, hospital, implants, follow-ups. If two quotes look very different, check what each one actually covers.

Warning signs

• Pressure to book quickly, or a discount that expires soon.
• Not meeting your surgeon until the day of surgery.
• No clear plan for aftercare, or aftercare in another country.
• Being told there are no risks.

Every operation has risks, including bleeding, infection, hardening around the implant and changes in nipple sensation. You should be able to talk these through openly before you decide anything.

Reviews

Independent reviews are worth reading, especially on platforms that verify patients, such as Doctify and Top Doctors. Look for patterns in what people say about communication and aftercare, not just the result.

If you would like to talk it through, you are welcome to book a consultation. There is more about the operation on my breast augmentation page.