Gary Ross named in the top 500 experts on patient research website
Mr Gary Ross is delighted to have been named in the RealSelf 500. The award celebrates commitment to patient education, along with an ability to inspire patients to share their story with the online community.
One of the most trusted patient resources available online, RealSelf is used every day by potential cosmetic surgery patients who are looking to undergo procedures.
What is RealSelf?
It’s an ideal platform for potential patients who wish to find out more about a specific medical professional, which may include plastic surgeons, cosmetic doctors, or dentists.
Mr Ross is delighted to be the recipient of this award from RealSelf and remains passionate about patients doing their research and ensuring they choose the right surgeon for their prospective treatment
Surgeon selection
Surgeon selection is incredibly important part of the journey for a patient who is choosing to undergo cosmetic surgery procedures such as facelift surgery or mummy makeover surgery.
When it comes to choosing a cosmetic surgeon, it is important to ascertain their suitability to your specific procedure.
When doing your research and choosing a medical professional to undertake your elective procedure, it’s a good idea to ensure they have good reviews from previous patients, as well as credentials and membership to safety organisations. This may include the BAAPS or BAPRAS.
Knowing more about your surgeon is a healthy step in undergoing cosmetic procedures in a safe and reliable setting. RealSelf is another platform that is helpful in providing information and reviews from previous patients about the surgeon you may be considering.
On his RealSelf award Mr Ross said:
“The RealSelf platform is an ideal online resource for potential patients and I’m pleased to be the recipient of this accolade.
“Before choosing to undergo any form of cosmetic surgery it’s important that patients do their research and ensure that they get to know their chosen surgeon before agreeing to undergo any procedures. The relationship between surgeon and patient is important, and it’s vital you make sure you feel comfortable and confident in surgeon’s abilities.
“We invite all potential patients to come in for a consultation to discuss their individual needs. This provides an excellent opportunity to ask questions and to determine suitability.
Get more information
You can read this post for more information about choosing a plastic surgeon. For treatment and procedure information please view the treatment pages and contact us if you have any questions.
What implications come with undergoing cosmetic surgery, and how can you avoid getting an unsatisfactory result? Mr Gary Ross spoke to Metro newspaper about mental health and cosmetic procedures, indicating that patient suitability and surgeon selection should be at the forefront of any responsible decision. The article appeared online and was a trending article on the health section for a week.
Experts see a surge in women wanting to correct botched treatments
Mr Gary Ross, who consults from the BMI The Alexendra Hospital in Cheadle, sys he’s seen a rise in the number of women asking for corrective surgery after undergoing unsatisfactory treatments elsewhere.
Mr Ross was asked by Channel 5 to consult with a patient wishing to have buttock augmentation. In this consultation that was performed live at the BMI Alexandra, without financial incentive, preparation or having previously met, Mr Ross explains the limitations of buttock augmentation to a patient wishing to have a procedure that would involve considerable risk.
Mr Ross has seen a rise in the number of consultations by patients wishing to obtain an unnatural look and a rise in patients with unrealistic expectations.
“It is always difficult to explain to a patient what the pros and cons and risks of a procedure are when patients only want to have an end result that they have set their heart on”
The popularisation of TV reality/drama shows in which cosmetic procedures are glamorised combined with the explosion of social media has led to a concerning growth in sensationalised plastic surgery. “Plastic Fantastic” and the false impression of the transformative powers of cosmetic surgery is a concern for patient safety.
“Popular Media has created a culture where cosmetic treatments are seen as common. Some patients wish to surpass this to stand out and be noticed, endangering themselves, and are unable to comprehend the complications and risks in either the short or long term. “
The cosmetic industry continues to grow. In order to protect patient’s interests, there has been an increased focus on regulation of the industry. Patients need to consult with surgeons that can provide all the information in an open, honest, transparent and non-judgemental fashion so that patients can be empowered to proceed or not.
“As a surgeon, being able to tell a patient that you will not provide the surgery they wish for and that their expectations are unrealistic is incredibly difficult. One does not wish to deflate patients who have an inherent vulnerability but at the same time provide them with enough information that they can make an informed decision”
Sadly there are unscrupulous surgeons that will offer patients surgery regardless of risk.
The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS), the General Medical Council, The Nuffield Council on Bioethics, the major providers of cosmetic surgery, and professional bodies representing surgeons in the cosmetic sector have all acknowledged the need for improved cosmetic surgery safety to protect vulnerable patients.
The RCS certification scheme now allows patient’s access to those surgeons that have met the professional standards of the RCS. Mr Ross was the first cosmetic surgeon to be certified by the RCS in cosmetic surgery in June 2017.
COSMETIC specialist Gary Ross has become the first plastic surgeon to be officially certified by a prestigious new scheme designed to boost patient safety.
Mr Ross, who operates out of the BMI Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle and the Christie Clinic in Withington, has been rubber-stamped by the Royal College Of Surgeons (RCS) Professional Standards system.
Launched in April last year, it sets-out tough industry benchmarks to help provide quality assurances for any patients looking to undergo a cosmetic procedure.
And now Mr Ross, an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester, is urging other surgeons to become approved themselves as he looks to safeguard the vulnerable.
Mr Ross, who recently appeared on BBC series Holding Back The Years, said: “A patient needs to have the utmost trust in the medical practitioner helping them.
“In an industry becoming increasingly tarnished by the actions of those who place profit above patient wellbeing, safeguards and checks to protect the vulnerable have never been more important.
“Which is why the new certification system launched by The Royal College of Surgeons – brought in to protect the cosmetic surgery industry and to guide patients in their life-changing choices – could prove to be one of the greatest steps forward yet, for all concerned.
“For me personally, it is an honour to be the first surgeon to have certified in cosmetic surgery through the RCS process, and I see this as a significant advance in patient care that will improve the reputation of the profession for years to come.”
Approved surgeons will be listed on the RCS website and acknowledged as highly capable in their defined areas of specialism.
It’s hoped patients will then be able to browse the RCS list and choose a surgeon who’s at the cutting edge of their chosen profession.
Mr Ross, an expert in so-called ‘mum tum’ abdominoplasty procedures and innovative fat-transfer breast augmentation operations, had to prove his competence in breast surgery, surgery of the face, nose, periorbital region and ears, body contouring surgery, and body contouring following massive weight loss,.
He explained: “In order to certify through the RCS scheme, I have provided evidence of my training, experience, and outcomes.
“I’ve provided reflection on difficult cases and showed through appraisal, revalidation, and through patient and colleague feedback, that I meet the professional standards that would be expected of a cosmetic surgeon.
“Every cosmetic surgeon should certify through the RCS – and that this should become mandatory – to safeguard patients form both physical and psychological harm.”
Stephen Cannon, Vice President of the RCS and Chair of the Cosmetic Surgery Interspecialty Committee, said ‘unscrupulous’ surgeons needed to be curbed.
He commented: “Our professional standards for cosmetic surgery, coupled with the GMC’s new guidance, will raise the bar and make absolutely clear what we expect of all surgeons working in the private sector.
“We will do everything in our powers to protect patients and to stop unscrupulous individuals from practising.”
The Royal College of Surgeons isn’t the only establishment seeking industry change.
Last month the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, an independent body that examines and reports on ethical issues in biology and medicine, called for better regulation of the cosmetic industry, and also an outright ban on clinics offering ‘walk in’ procedures to young people.
Meanwhile former Health Secretary Lord Andrew Lansley, also last month successfully tabled a private members’ bill that, if passed, will enable the General Medical Council (GMC) to note on its medical register which surgeons have been awarded the RCS’ cosmetic surgery certification.
The Care Quality Commission will also take the RCS and GMC standards into account during hospital inspections and when making a judgement about the quality and safety of services being provided.
Mr Ross, aged 45, and who lives in Sale with his wife and two daughters, adds: “All of this underlines the value of the RCS certification system and I’d encourage every plastic and cosmetic surgeon to get involved in it to become regulated and certified.
“It’s what we all must strive for.”
The RCS certification for Mr Ross comes just weeks after he was awarded a Certificate of Excellence by the popular patient review website ‘I Want Great Care.’
It was a prize that acknowledged Mr Ross’s consistently high review scores throughout the year.
And Mr Ross is also the only UK plastic surgeon to be named in the Top 500 of the RealSelf patient review website for three consecutive years.
The Mail Online recently picked up a story about one of our patients, Barbara Lewis, who has recently started a modelling career following her fleur de lis abdominoplasty.
He advised her that the best way to sort her misshapen stomach was with a Fleur De Lis abdominoplasty – a specialism of Dr Ross – and the same procedure recently carried out on TV star Lisa Riley. The operation is designed for patients with a lot of excess skin and for those who have mid-line abdominal scarring they wish to get rid of. It involves making an incision just above the pubic area and drawing a vertical line down the middle of the abdomen, with skin being excised on either side of the triangle.
Gary Ross recently became the first in the country to be officially endorsed to perform cosmetic surgery by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS). You can read more about this on the National Health Executive website.
The RCS has previously been vocal in its opinions on regulating cosmetic surgery, as last month it backed a Private Members’ Bill that had been tabled to look into the issue. And today, Gary Ross, a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at the BMI Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, has become the first to receive the new accreditation.
This week iWantGreatCare announced the recipients of the iWGC Certificate of Excellence 2017. This award recognises excellence by those individuals and surgeries who have put patient experience at the centre of their care. By receiving regular reviews throughout the year and maintaining a high average score, they truly deserve to be acknowledged for this fantastic achievement.
The healthcare industry both in the UK and worldwide is changing and is embracing the role that patient feedback has to play in improving services for all. iWGC wants to enable all those who work in healthcare to easily collect real-time, continuous feedback. The Certificates of Excellence acknowledges those who are leading the way in patient care and experience and the publicly available reviews will allow others to see what 5 star care is.
By gathering patient feedback to improve their services, they not only receive constructive suggestions for improvement but also heart-warming comments, written by patients who took time out of their day to say thank you.
Patient reviews are a particularly good resource for patients wishing to undergo plastic surgery procedures, for those researching treatments and surgeons. Mr Ross is not only the most highly rated plastic surgeon in the UK but also the highest rated surgeon of any discipline in the UK.
It is a great honor that Mr. Gary Ross has been listed as one of only 500 doctors from around the world who has been awarded the prestigious Real Self 500 Award 2016!
Mr. Ross has been named in the real self top 500 for the last 3 years and is the only plastic surgeon in the UK to have achieved this accolade.
The Real Self 500 award is based on three criteria: the quantity and quality of patient reviews, engagement with the Real Self community via questions and answers, and the sharing of before and after treatment photos.
The Real Self 500 Award honors the top rated and most engaged board-certified aesthetic doctors who consistently demonstrated a commitment to patient education and positive patient outcomes throughout 2016. This elite group of doctors has excelled at sharing their expertise, free of charge, with tens of millions of Real Self community members actively searching for information and the right provider.
What is Real Self? It is the largest online destination to get informed about elective cosmetic procedures and to find the right doctor or clinic. More than 9 million people visit Real Self each month to find out which treatments and providers live up to their promise of being “Worth It.” Real Self is powered by unbiased experiences shared by consumers for hundreds of treatments, ranging from simple skincare to highly considered cosmetic surgery. Offering millions of photos and medical expert answers, Real Self has become the essential resource and service for those seeking to find the right doctor or clinic.
Tom Seery, Founder and CEO of RealSelf. “Our research shows that more than 95 percent of patients expect a practice to engage with them online. These doctors are leading the way in terms of their online engagement and focus on empowering patients with good information.”
Mr. Ross aim as a plastic surgeon is help patients to be empowered to make their own decision of whether plastic surgery is right for them. He always encourages those considering any treatment to invest a lot of time in research. This includes researching a range of surgeons and their professional background as well as the benefits and potential risks. By completing in depth research on a procedure and fully understanding aspects such as the recovery period, patients can make an informed decision. Real self is a valuable online resource for patients.
