Cosmetic Surgery: Frequently Asked Questions

March 2009 - August 2009
Publication date: Autumn 2010

We didn't receive a questionnaire and we think we should participate, can we download one?: Yes, you can download one form the website. However, could you contact the office so we can check that your details are up to date on the database.
Our site performs some of the procedures listed but they are only ever carried out for health reasons or for reconstruction (e.g. Breast reconstruction after cancer), should we participate in your study?: No, if your site only performs plastic surgery for health or reconstructive purposes, then you would not need to participate. However, if any of the procedures are ever performed for purely aesthetic reasons or for reasons of psychological distress, then we would want to include your site.
Our site only performs very few operations that fit the criteria for your study, do we need to participate?: Yes, we want to collect data from every site that carries out procedures that fit the criteria no matter how rarely they are performed.
Our site is an NHS hospital that has some NHS patients who fit the criteria, but also, surgery is carried out on private patients who may have had an initial consultation for their surgery elsewhere. These different types of patients may be treated differently so it is difficult to answer the questionnaire on behalf of both types.: We understand that this may be a problem. Therefore, if surgery is carried out on private patients in an NHS site, we are asking you to complete 2 separate questionnaires: one on behalf of the NHS patients (which you can call 'your site name-NHS patients') and one on behalf of the treatment of private patients (which can be called: 'your site name- private patients'- unless it has its own separate name
We are a trust consisting of multiple sites; do we need to complete more than one questionnaire?: Yes, if cosmetic surgery is carried out at more than one of your sites. We want to collect data from all of the individual sites where cosmetic surgery is carried out.
We are a large private company consisting of many sites, including consulting rooms, small clinics, and private hospitals; do we need to complete more than one questionnaire?: Yes, we want to collect data from all the individual sites where cosmetic surgery is either arranged or carried out, so we would like each site to fill out a separate questionnaire, even the consulting rooms, where no surgery takes place but where the initial consultation for cosmetic surgery may take place.
We are a treatment centre that only carries out non-surgical procedures. However, we can arrange a consultation with a surgeon for cosmetic surgery on request, should we take part?: Yes, every site that arranges cosmetic surgery would be included.
We do not carry out cosmetic surgery or any medical procedures, we are purely a referral service that arranges cosmetic surgery, do we need to take part?: Yes please, we want to include every site that arranges cosmetic surgery. You can complete the first part of the questionnaire on advertising and patient information.
Is completion of this questionnaire mandatory? We are very busy you know!: Yes, the GMC requires all clinicians to participate in confidential enquiries as 'Good Medical Practice' states that: "..You must participate in confidential enquiries and adverse event recognition and reporting." We appreciate that you are busy, therefore if you need an extended deadline then please contact us to arrange one.
We are a trust who has received questionnaires for more than one site, and each site has a different deadline by which its questionnaire must be completed, why is this?: Probably because for sites that are involved in either the EESE or surgery in children studies in addition to the cosmetic surgery study, we have given a longer time period for completion.
I would like to read the protocol - could you send me a copy?: Yes. All hospital/units/centres will be asked to take part regardless as NCEPOD need data from all hospitals for this study. Please contact NCEPOD directly using the details in the Contact Us section.

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