Meet Mr Ahid Abood; a highly esteemed surgeon offering cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive procedures for the breasts, bodies, and faces of Cambridge and London.
His day-to-day life consists of performing a wide range of procedures from breast augmentations to facelifts and he also has a sub-specialty interest in microsurgery and treating patients suffering from skin cancer. And if you thought this wasn’t enough to keep him busy, Mr Abood also finds time to teach trainee plastic surgeons and has even produced, directed and edited the documentary, “My New Ear”, which aired on ABC news.
Here at Top Doctors, we like to know more about the work of our specialists. So, we sat down with Mr Abood to know what exactly inspired him when he was young to take up this profession and what a typical day looks like for a plastic surgeon working on London’s busy and prestigious Harley Street.
Have you always wanted to be a cosmetic surgeon and what inspired you to become one?
No, I knew I wanted to be a surgeon but it wasn’t until later in my career path that I really knew that plastic surgery was for me! During my training as a doctor, I rotated around a lot of different surgical specialties. I enjoyed aspects of most of them but it wasn’t until I was exposed to plastic surgery that I immediately knew that that was the career for me. I loved the diversity of technical skills required and the immediacy of the profound effect which you could have upon your patients.
What does a typical day look like for you?
It’s generally a mixture of clinics and operating. In my clinic, I meet new patients who are thinking about surgery and also previous patients who come back for ‘check-ups’. The effects of surgery change over time so often you don’t see the ‘end result’ for up to one year after surgery. It’s important to follow-up your patients for that reason alone but it’s also great to find out what positive impact you’ve been able to have which helps inform my conversations with future patients.
How do you keep up-to-date with advances in cosmetic surgery and scientific progress?
I regularly attend conferences around the world and read current articles. Cosmetic surgery is constantly changing and advancing so you need to stay on top of things.
What are the current trends right now in cosmetic surgery?
Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a change in my patients who are considering breast enlargement. Whereas previously, people seemed to want very large volume implants and a much more obvious change in appearance, it’s becoming increasingly common that patients are requesting a more ‘natural’ look. It’s a very personal choice, but in my opinion, I think that’s a move in the right direction.
People also seem to be living busier lives. They want less downtime and be able to get back to normal life as quickly as possible. I find that I’m doing far more mini-facelift procedures under local anaesthetic and sedation then I was 5 years ago.
What do you predict will be the next?
I think the trend for less invasive procedures that result in faster recovery will continue. Technology is always continually changing and will continue to have an increasing role in planning surgical procedures and also the types of devices (for example, types of breast implant) which we use.
What’s the most unusual request you’ve had?
I once had a patient ask me if I could take the fat which was to be removed from their planned liposuction procedure and inject it into her friend’s breasts (who also came to the consultation). I explained that it wasn’t possible!
What’s your favourite surgical procedure to perform and why?
I genuinely enjoy the vast majority of the operations I undertake. Whether it’s a breast augmentation, tummy tuck or facelift there is a tremendous amount of planning and thought which goes into every patient’s particular needs and requests.
Similarly, the technical aspects can be quite different from one patient to the next, even if they’re having the same type of operation. Individuals are just that, so each operation is, to some degree, different and that always keeps things interesting. The immediacy of the visual transformation at the end of a procedure can be tremendously satisfying. But most of all, the positive impact upon things like a person’s self-confidence, which I’m fortunate enough to play a part in, is really great and a privilege to be part of.
What do you think cosmetic surgery will be like in the future?
That’s an interesting question! There’s a great deal going on in the world of stem-cells and tissue engineering. It’s possible that for things like breast enlargement we could someday be taking fat cells from someone’s body and growing them in a laboratory into breasts which are then inserted in the same way as silicone ones are today. Although the science and technology behind these kinds of ideas are very real, I think we’re still quite a long way from them being implemented.
Mr Ahid Abood works at 9 Harley Street, London, Spire Lea Cambridge and the Nuffield Health Cambridge. If you would like more information about Mr Abood or you’d like to book a consultation, check his availability here.
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