Introducing the team
The team > Anaesthetic team
Anaesthetic team
Close interaction between you, your surgeon and your anaesthetist is essential. The anaesthetist is pivotal in ensuring your surgery proceeds smoothly.
We have worked closely with the same anaesthetic team for over a decade. Every member of the team is a consultant anaesthetist in the NHS and on the General Medical Council specialist register. We work with them daily in cosmetic surgery and our NHS reconstructive surgery practices. Communication before, during and after surgery is therefore optimal. The group is always available individually during the working week and by rota 24/7 when required.
Modern anaesthetics are exceptionally safe and effective with a very low level of side effects. We almost always use a combination of agents to minimise risks and maximise your safety and comfort. Safety checks are integral to our practice. We follow established checklists routinely, and before commencing any surgical operation, we discuss each aspect of your care to ensure we haven't missed anything.
Pain control and comfort are likely to be priorities for you. Using a combination of techniques ensures we keep discomfort to a minimum. We also employ individual medicine regimes, for example, providing a patient with a short-acting morphine-like drug during anaesthesia, local anaesthetic injections or nerve blocks while asleep, intravenous paracetamol just before waking up, and a combination of codeine, paracetamol and anti-inflammatory medicine after the operation.
Nausea or vomiting may also concern you. In reality, these conditions are uncommon with today's short-acting modern anaesthetic agents. However, if you have a history of nausea and vomiting, or you're concerned, we can employ preventative measures and a variety of best-established anti-emetic drugs.
Finally, patients often ask what they can do to help themselves. Following our clear fasting regime is paramount. If you smoke, please stop for as long as possible before surgery. Indeed, as doctors and non-smokers ourselves, we always advise that you quit forever. Eat healthily and try to exercise regularly before surgery. Finally, be honest; tell us all your previous medical history and the medications you take, prescribed or otherwise.
We genuinely look forward to seeing you for surgery. Like the surgeons in our team, the anaesthetists take great pride in their work. In fact, if one of our team or families required or sought surgery, we would have no hesitation in using the team's skills. When looking after you, we will give you the same care as we would a member of our own families.