Mr Christopher Macdonald, an experienced surgeon in body contouring will be joining the team at our CQC Outstanding rated hospital in December.
Mr Macdonald has many years practice in the field of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, he studied degrees at University College London before working in London, Hertfordshire, Essex and the South East. He then worked in internationally renowned Plastic Surgery Centres in the South East, Norwich, and the West Midlands.
Meet Mr Chris Macdonald
Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Mr Chris Macdonald, discusses his background and training in cosmetic surgery.
So, my name's Chris Macdonald. I'm a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon here at Benenden Hospital. My speciality here is working in breast surgery and body contouring. So that's lifting and reshaping breasts and slimming down bodies after massive weight loss.
So I love this part of plastic surgery. Because it allows me to help patients who've lost their confidence or it allows me to help treat functional problems such as those caused by people who've lost core strength after their muscles have separated or where they've got too much skin and it causes irritation.
Well, I went to medical school at University College London where I completed my six year course. And then after that, I trained in general medicine and then surgical specialties all around the country. I completed my plastic surgery training in the West Midlands, where I then worked as a consultant for a year before coming back down to the South East. And during my training, I took an advanced fellowship in cosmetic and plastic surgery. At the moment I sit on the Council for BAPRAS, which is the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons and I'm also a member of BAAPS, which is the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.
So I love working here at Benenden Hospital. All the patients I see here know what to expect. So it's a clean, healthy environment. All the staff here are incredibly friendly and work very well together. It's out of the city, it's surrounded by nice healthy fields. We have a newly revamped Cosmetic Suite here that's all set up for treating patients, either those who are being treated surgically or non-surgically. And it's where our hub is inside the hospital.
My approach to patient care is that I see my role as being there to help educate patients and help them decide for themselves what they think is the best option. For most parts of plastic surgery, there are lots of different options for how you can deal with problems. And it's my role to give all of those options to the patient and educate them and spend time with them so they can figure out which one of those will help them achieve what it is they're really after.
He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and completed esteemed fellowships in skin cancer surgery and aesthetic surgery before undertaking advanced training in Boston and San Diego (USA). He worked as a Consultant Plastic Surgeon in the Midlands where he established a successful cosmetic practice before returning to his roots in the South East.
He has a broad surgical expertise and carries out a wide variety of surgery for the breast and body. He most enjoys repairing changes brought on by weight fluctuation, the aging process and pregnancy. He is a member of specialist interest groups for cosmetic surgery safety, microsurgery, and body contouring surgery.
Mr Macdonald will be offering abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and brachioplasty (arm lift) which will be available as part of cosmetic surgery self-pay treatments at Benenden Hospital.
Mr Macdonald on cosmetic surgery at Benenden Hospital
Mr Macdonald said: “I’m very excited to be joining the team here at Benenden Hospital, it has an excellent reputation. It’s an exciting opportunity to be able to offer a new range of operations and treatments to our local patients.
“Both the abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and the brachioplasty (arm lift) procedures are common treatments that have been around for years. These procedures cannot replace a healthy diet and exercise regime but they can help bring an end to the misery of excess hanging skin which has been caused when abdominal muscles and skin have become weak and loose as a result of pregnancy, weight loss and/or the natural ageing process.
“Increasingly, both men and women are turning to tummy tuck and arm lift surgery as a way to combine smooth skin with a flat stomach and smoother, tauter upper arms.
“Many patients feel self-conscious about sagging and loose skin around the tummy and the upper arm area. This surgery will help boost patients’ confidence.”
What is abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)?
The aim of an abdominoplasty operation (commonly known as a tummy tuck) is to remove extra skin, scars, stretch marks and fat from the tummy to improve the appearance and shape of the abdomen.
In some cases, it can also tighten the tummy by re-joining the muscles of the abdominal wall if they’ve been pulled apart in the middle (known as the ‘divarification of the recti’). Stretch marks can sometimes be cut away or tightened to make them less obvious.
An abdominoplasty may be further enhanced with additional procedures, such as liposuction targeted to specific areas.
What is brachioplasty (arm lift)?
After losing a significant amount of weight and embarking on a programme of vigorous exercise, some find they still have loose, hanging underarm skin that resembles bat wings. Although you can improve your upper-arm appearance with exercise, this redundant underarm skin remains a problem that does not improve with exercise.
Brachioplasty (arm lift) surgery is an operation that removes excess skin and fat from the upper arms that might develop with age or after weight loss.
Cosmetic (plastic) surgery in Kent
We offer discreet cosmetic surgery treatment in a clean and calm environment in the heart of the Wealden countryside. Patients are supported by our experienced team of Consultant Plastic Surgeons and Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeons.
Book a consultation today by completing our online booking form or by contacting our Private Patient Team via Livechat or on 01580 363158.
Published on 22 November 2021