The Need for Mental Health Checks in Plastic Surgery: A Growing Concern
In a world increasingly influenced by social media and the pursuit of aesthetic perfection, a leading doctor is calling for stricter mental health assessments before plastic surgery procedures. Dr. Christopher Rowland-Payne, the first president of the Royal Society of Medicine’s new Section of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery, believes that cosmetic doctors must be equipped to recognise psychological issues in their patients.
The Rise of “Helen of Troyism”
Dr. Rowland-Payne highlights a phenomenon he calls “Helen of Troyism,” where individuals become overly fixated on their appearance, believing they can never be beautiful enough. Inspired by the legendary Greek figure “whose face launched a thousand ships,” this modern obsession is largely fuelled by social media, where edited and filtered images create unrealistic beauty standards.
Young people, particularly women, are disproportionately affected. The rise of “selfie culture” has contributed to what Dr. Rowland-Payne describes as an “insatiable yearning” to enhance one’s looks. This is especially concerning when it becomes irrational, leading to conditions like Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).
The Role of Cosmetic Doctors
Given the serious mental health implications, Dr. Rowland-Payne urges aesthetic doctors to go beyond their technical skills and develop psychological expertise. He suggests that some patients seeking cosmetic procedures may be better served by therapy rather than surgery.
BDD, which affects 1–2% of the population and around 6% of young women aged 17–19, has one of the highest suicide rates among mental health disorders. This alarming statistic underscores the need for responsible decision-making in the cosmetic industry.
Striking a Balance
The desire to enhance one’s appearance is natural, but when it becomes an unhealthy obsession, medical professionals must step in. Striking a balance between aesthetic aspirations and mental well-being is essential to ensure that cosmetic procedures are pursued for the right reasons.
Dr. Rowland-Payne’s call for mental health checks in aesthetic medicine is a crucial step toward protecting vulnerable individuals from the darker side of beauty culture. As the industry evolves, ensuring that psychological well-being is prioritised alongside physical appearance is more important than ever.
What are your thoughts on mandatory mental health checks before cosmetic procedures?
If you’re considering cosmetic surgery in 2025, we believe it is important to approach the decision thoughtfully to ensure you achieve the best possible outcome. Here’s a guide to help you prepare for your journey:
Define Your Goals
Be Specific: Identify what you want to enhance (e.g., nose, lips, breasts, skin) and why.
Focus on Confidence: Choose procedures that align with your personal vision of beauty, not external pressures.
Research Options: Understand the different types of procedures that can achieve your goals.
Choose the Right Surgeon
Board Certification: We have a team of elite breast and specialist surgeons who have been handpicked specially to be a part of our team for their impressive credentials and experience. We have carefully selected the most trustworthy and experienced surgeons in their specialist areas so that you can feel confident when making the decision to start your journey, that you are in safe hands.
Experience: Our surgical team have extensive experience providing professional advice and quality of procedures available.
Portfolio: Review before-and-after photos of our surgeon’s work and aesthetic style.
Consultation: Schedule multiple consultations with your surgeon to discuss your goals and feel comfortable with their approach.
Explore Trending Procedures for 2025
Some popular procedures in 2025 may include:
Facial Rejuvenation: Mini facelifts, jawline contouring, upper and lower eye bag removal or brow lifts.
Body Sculpting: Liposuction with skin-tightening technologies or fat transfer for natural curves.
Breast Augmentation/Reduction: We are committed to using only the highest quality FDA approved breast implants for ladies opting for breast enlargement surgery. These implants have been carefully selected as they are safe, durable, of high quality and all carry a warranty. There are different implant options of shape, size and texture and dependent upon your goal, our specialist team will work with you to find the best fit for your body shape and desired results.
Understand the Costs and Recovery
Budgeting: Research the average costs of your desired procedure and save accordingly.
Recovery Time: Plan for downtime; some surgeries require weeks of healing.
Follow-Ups: Factor in the costs and time for follow-up appointments with your personal aftercare team. Your aftercare is led by our experienced team, including our Cosmetic Surgery Nurse Elaine, who acts under the instructions of your operating surgeon and is a specialist at surgical after-care.
Elaine has over 40 years’ experience in cosmetic surgery and her team are with you every step of the way. The moment you walk into our clinic, you will be in her care. Expect to speak with Elaine and her team at every stage of your surgery journey, as they promise to offer their full support. Our care starts the moment you step into our clinic and doesn’t stop.
Prioritise Safety
Health Evaluation: Be upfront about your medical history and lifestyle habits.
Accredited Facilities: We have a number of clinics at different locations across the North West, all modern, clean and purpose built to take care of you during your surgery journey.
Realistic Expectations: Understand what’s possible with your procedure and discuss this with your surgeon at one of our no-obligation consultations
Boost Your Confidence Before and After Surgery
Pre-Op Prep: Eat healthily, quit smoking, and follow all pre-surgery instructions.
Post-Op Care: Follow recovery protocols, attend all follow-up appointments, and be patient with healing.
Self-Care: Stay positive and focus on how your enhancements will make you feel over time.
Trends to Watch in 2025
Personalised Aesthetics: Our commitment to offering surgery that is tailored just for you, using only the finest surgeons and the highest standard of care. A comprehensive aftercare policy that is open for as long as you need us, to give you the assurance that we are always here for you every step of the way, during and after your surgery.
Minimally Invasive Options: Procedures with shorter recovery times.
Combination Treatments: Combining more than one surgical procedure for optimal results.
If you’d like help exploring specific procedures or understanding how to choose the best options for you, please contact us!
2025 could be the year you step into your most confident self! ✨
Breast Reduction Surgery, also known as “mammaplasty”, allows a surgeon to remove excess breast tissue, fat and skin from the breasts allowing for a smaller, lighter and improved or lifted appearance. Having large breasts can take its toll on the back and shoulders and cause pain and discomfort carrying around this additional weight.
Breast Reduction Surgery can be life changing and not only change appearance, but allow for a light hold across the body making daily activites so much easier.
Breast reduction surgery can help women who are unhappy with the shape, weight or droop of their breasts by making them smaller and more lifted.
Meet out patient who recently underwent Breast Reduction Surgery at The First Trust Hospital in Preston, Lancashire with our expereinced breast specialist surgeon Mr Ashley Topps. During our first consultation with our patient, we learned that our patient had been considering breast reduction surgery for a very long time, and was struggling not only with the weight and the size of each breast, but also with the appearance of herself when wearing clothes and swimsuits etc. Our patient was feeling down and unhappy with the size of her breasts and experienced pain and discomfort each day, when doing regular and simple tasks and could not join in with any physical activities. She was looking for a new self-image, a chest that could change her life and a wardrobe which she could embrace and enjoy.
The surgery went well, there was some swelling and pain initially, but with rest and care, our patient was able to heal quite nicely.
She is absolutely thrilled with her new chest, and has immediately found relief in her back and shoulders with a lighter, lifted pair of breasts.
If you’re thinking of breast reduction surgery, talk to us about the best surgeon and come along and book a free consultation to learn more. It’s important to understand what’s involved with breast reduction surgery, including shape and size. During your consultation, your surgeon will discuss any possible risks and complications, as well as what the surgery can and can’t do.
If you are located around Lancashire, please reach out for a free consultation in Preston, as our closest clinic. You can view this Preston clinic here.
Geraldine had spent many years considering a breast reduction and came to Red Rose Desire after a recommendation from a family friend who had already had surgery with us. At 62 years of age, Geraldine finally felt confident enough to kick
off her surgery journey and started the research to seek out the best company and surgeon for her.
Geraldine came along and met with Dr. Krishnan who talked through her surgery options, the procedure itself, her desires, her expectations, as well as her health and medical history. After seeing the surgeon and undertaking a number of discussions, Geraldine went ahead on the 19th of January with a Bilateral Breast Reduction at the private hospital in Wigan.
She says ‘I had no doubt about having the procedure once I had seen Mr. Krishnan, he was so very clear, detailing my procedure and options and any risks there could be. As you all know I’m very happy with the outcome”.
Age is but a number! Geraldine may have been a little older, but that didn’t stop her making this body changing decision that has gone on to change the way she lives her life and the way she looks and feels about her body. We know that surgery has
no limits by age, and risks associated can be present on many factors, but not age.
The success of your surgery is simple…find an experienced surgeon who will take time to get to know you and your expectations, someone who is credible, experienced and qualified. There may be some risks associated with surgery, in various factors, but one thing that has no limits when it comes to surgery is age, just as Geraldine proves!
I’d heard of Red Rose Desire Cosmetic Surgery through a few people I know who’d had other procedures done but had spent time researching and browsing their website and Instagram posts of other patient stories before booking a consultation with my chosen surgeon.
The whole team were supportive, helpful, and honest right from the beginning, from booking a consultation right through to my aftercare. All my questions were answered willingly, and the team were always responsive and never pushy, in fact they gave me time to decide and come to every decision myself. I was very satisfied with my consultations which allowed me to meet both my surgeon Mr Sharif and the aftercare head nurse Elaine multiple times, which was the main reason I felt at ease before my surgery! Mr Sharif was brilliant every step of the way, always providing the relevant facts and being completely honest about realistic outcomes of surgery.
I wanted to stay relatively local and didn’t want to have to travel hours for consultations or procedures, which worked out easy because of all the different locations and the team always made sure the appointments were at a time which were convenient. I’ve been to three of the locations and all were easy to locate and to access!
Cost and aftercare were important to me. I had done a lot of research prior to booking consultations and the procedure, purely as Red Rose Desire Cosmetic Surgery provided one of the most competitive prices with everything included. There were no extra costs for aftercare, and this was attractive to me.
Recover was something I discussed in great detail during my consultations, as I wanted to ensure I was equipped with all the information. I was advised of many things I could do to prepare pre-surgery and how to keep myself and my new boobs well rested for best recovery post-surgery.
Nurse Elaine recommended bras and scar solutions that worked amazingly and always made herself available to discuss aftercare and recovery if it was needed – even if it was just to reassure me! The surgery has honestly changed my life. My boobs were such an insecurity of mine for as long as I can remember as I’d always had bigger boobs even as a younger teenager. I’ve had so many comments from close friends and family who say they can see on my face how much happier the surgery has made me. 100% the best decision I ever made & I would recommend Red Rose to anyone!
At Red Rose Desire, no patient’s cosmetic journey is ever the same; even if two people might be having the same surgery, with the same surgeon.
Every single person that walks into our consultation room has different needs, dreams and desires for their bodies and minds alike. Some will be having surgery for medical, physical reasons such as a breast reduction to relieve back pain or perhaps rhinoplasty to help with breathing difficulties, whilst others will be choosing to have a procedure to help them regain confidence in themselves aesthetically with a tummy tuck, breast uplift, liposuction, labiaplasty and more.
We aren’t a quick fix, in and out, type of cosmetic surgery business that aims to make everyone look the same, churning out patient after patient, with the same results for all. We work closely with you before, during and afterwards on your own personalised cosmetic surgery journey, ensuring that you are fully aware of all procedures, options available to you as an individual, as well as the physical and mental effects of your surgery in particular, and surgery in general too.
Initially, many will feel nervous, uneasy, sometimes even guilty about wanting surgery, other’s will be excited and want to rush straight in! We are experienced in dealing with people of all walks of life; ages, genders, and backgrounds, and are great believers that if you are looking at surgery options for the right reasons, then we can absolutely assist you from start to finish.
The ‘right’ reasons are of course subjective, but we always want to ensure that our clients aren’t looking for surgery because they feel pressured, feel they must look a certain way to fit in, to make someone else happy / jealous or to save a relationship. We work with people who feel that certain parts of their body are causing them to feel anxiety, stress, discomfort or in whole a lack of self-esteem and confidence. Patients that are looking to enhance their features, redefine and augment certain areas of their body so they feel more like themselves, physically and mentally.
We don’t want to make you someone you’re not, or think you should be, we want to help you be the person you really are!
When you come and see us, right from the very first enquiry you make, your journey with us will be as unique as you are. Every person’s body is completely distinctive and specific to them such as age, shape, size, collagen amounts, skin elasticity, skin type and a person’s health can all effect the choices and decisions of the surgeon. Surgery is not a one type fits all, there are many factors that must be considered by a surgeon in order for them to tailor a cosmetic strategy just for you.
Whatever your goal as a patient, we will work with you directly on a personalised plan to create your own individual journey; a journey that is initially lead by you, your body, your health, and hopes. Our highly skilled and experienced surgeons will listen to your aspirations and use their knowledge and expertise to achieve your aims in the best, safest way possible.
Always individual, always unique, always all about you, your body and of course, your mind.
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