2019 - IN THE CUT: PLASTIC SURGEONS WELCOME NEW PRESIDENT
London surgeon assumes leadership role at the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
04 October 2018 (Last updated: 13 Sep 2019 14:30)
London, 4 October 2018 - The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (www.baaps.org.uk); the not-for-profit organisation representing the vast majority of NHS-trained plastic surgeons in private practice the U.K.; today announced the appointment of London-based consultant plastic surgeon Paul Harris to the role of President.
According to Simon Withey, consultant plastic surgeon and outgoing President:
“I’m delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Harris as the new President of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. Paul has been instrumental in promoting the BAAPS’ message of patient safety and education in his long-standing tenure as Council Member, and has played key roles in Council supporting our continued drive to improve outcomes for all patients undergoing cosmetic surgery. Most notably, he has lead on the development of regional training courses for trainee plastic surgeons around the country, and our international links to other plastic surgical organisations through the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ISAPS). ”
After medical school in London, Paul Harris embarked on his surgical career in 1991. He then spent four years of training in general surgery, before a further eight years of training in plastic surgery at a number of London teaching hospitals. In 2002, he gained the Specialist Fellowship in Plastic Surgery (FRCS Plast) and was entered on the GMC Specialist Register for plastic surgery in 2004.
Paul’s experience in aesthetic surgery began when he was awarded a travelling fellowship to study with one of the world’s leading authorities in cosmetic surgery in Melbourne, Australia,in 1999. He then published several articles relating underlying surgical anatomy to aesthetic surgery procedures, and continued to develop his interests in this field throughout his consultant career. Until recently, Paul was the senior Consultant Plastic Surgeon at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London where hespecialised in reconstructive breast surgery since 2004, with private practices in South and Central London. His main interests are breast surgery and body contouring.
Throughout his career, Mr Harris has continued to publish his work within the plastic surgery and scientific literature, and present nationally and internationally at plastic surgery conferences. He is actively involved in teaching junior plastic surgeons and has lectured at eminent surgical meetings around the world.
He comments:
“I feel honoured and privileged to be leading BAAPS at such an important – and turbulent – time. We have all witnessed the worrying trend of inadequately qualified doctors making outlandish claims of success and then performing dangerous procedures which have even lead to tragedy in some cases. With an ever-shrinking World, these treatments are more accessible and patients are at greater risk. As a consequence, Aesthetic surgery in the UK is the focus of increasing debate about the need for stringent regulation to improve patient safety, surgical training and outcomes – all of which I am deeply committed to.During my time as President I hope to continue the hard work of my predecessors in these areas and I also want the BAAPS to engage more with the public. It is now vita, more than ever, that we raise awareness of some of the pitfalls that await patients considering cosmetic surgery, before it is too late and they are under the knife of an unscrupulous practitioner.”
Paul has been a long-time member of the BAAPS Council, serving as Honorary Secretary and Vice President. He comments regularly in the media on topical plastic surgery issues and has also been featured in several television documentaries. He is also a member of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), and UK National Secretary for the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ISAPS).
ENDS
About the BAAPS:
The BAAPS (www.baaps.org.uk), based at the Royal College of Surgeons, is a not-for-profit organisation, established for the advancement of education and practice of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for public benefit. Members undergo thorough background screening before they can join. Information about specific procedures and surgeons’ contact details can be found on the website, or by contacting their office at 020 7430 1840. Further materials can be posted to members of the public seeking specialised information. BAAPS is also on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BAAPSMedia and Facebook: www.facebook.com/BritishAssociationofAestheticPlasticSurgeons
For all media enquiries, please contact pr@baaps.org.uk
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