Reflection on 2016

It is always time for reflection at the end of the year, as well as planning for 2017

When I look back at 2016, there are several milestones that stick out for me:

Buddy Scheme

This is an initiative that we started which involves putting prospective patients in touch with current or past patients to share experiences and provide advice.

We try to make ourselves as accessible as we can so that you can always ask questions or voice concerns with me or one of the team but sometimes it is nice to hear from someone who has actually been through surgery.

We are very lucky to have a group of patients who are happy to talk about their experiences and this can really help when it comes to areas like choosing the right breast implants or things like driving or going back to work after surgery.

If you would like to talk to someone who has had surgery with us, or if you have had surgery and are happy to share your experiences with others “ please let us know and we will make it happen.

Facebook SPS Support & Discussion Forum

This was Tish’s idea (our clinic nurse) and it has been a great success.

It is a closed group and we only invite patients who have been to the clinic to join.

It is an extension of the Buddy Scheme and is another way for us to connect patients to help you to share experiences.

Because it is a closed group, you know that your mum or your neighbour will not be able to see your posts or comments (well, unless they happen to have been to the clinic too).

I know Facebook isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but there is no doubt that it is very popular and the beauty is that you can private message us or one of the other members if you want to take your discussion off-line.

The Book

Of course 2016 has been the year that I got my book published.

‘Wow’

It is one of those things that you can think about and plan forever.

I am very proud of this accomplishment and I really hope that I can get the message out to as many people as possible.

Whenever I talk to people about the lack of regulation in the cosmetic industry, they are always shocked to hear about the fact that ‘junior’ doctors can practice without supervision in the private sector, but would have to work under a fully trained consultant surgeon if working in the NHS.

We are trying to get the book in to as many hands as possible and we have moved about 200 copies. However, because we have been promoting and selling them through my website, we have not had any reviews on Amazon so far.

If you have managed to hold of a copy and would like to leave a review on Amazon then it would really help me to get the message out to a wider audience.

If you haven’t managed to get hold of a copy yet and would like one, of course you can buy one from Amazon, but I have an offer on my website where you can get your hands on a copy for free (you only pay postage and packaging) if you type in the promotional code ‘webinar’ at the checkout.

Facebook Live

You may have seen me on Facebook Live in 2016.

Every Tuesday evening at 7pm, I do a live Q&A where you can ask questions directly, or email them beforehand to laura ([email protected]) using the hashtag #AskJJ.

These live videos seem to get some of the best engagement of all my Facebook posts and so I will continue to do them, although I am yet to feel completely comfortable with the technology!

Effie

I am very pleased to have Effie Katerinaki working with me at the Clinic in 2016. Effie is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at City Hospital and she specialises in breast surgery. In fact, Effie took over from me when I left my NHS post at City Hospital in 2012.

She is a great addition to the team because she is a specialist in her field and has a particular interest in surgery under local anaesthetic and sedation, which is a growing area and one in which we are able to lead the country in in terms of what is possible with this technique.

Tish leaving

I was personally very sad to say goodbye to Tish, our clinic nurse, who relocated to USA to be with her husband in 2016. We always knew that she was planning this, but it was still a shock to us all as she had been such a great part of the team and it will be very hard to fill her shoes.

Fortunately, we have lots of friends who are able to fill in for the clinics, but we are looking for a permanent replacement on a part-time basis, so if you know of any dynamic and caring nurses who have an eye for detail and are keen to work in a small team, please let us know!

Laura arriving

The staff at The Staiano Clinic is our greatest asset and just as we have lost Tish, it is great that we have gained Laura. Most of you will have met or spoken with Laura as she is usually your first point of contact with the clinic. Her role cannot be underestimated and it is one of the reasons that I opened my own clinic in the first place!
I found that the reception that I received at some of the private hospitals could be quite variable and I do not think that the hospitals put enough effort in to making sure that the ‘front of house’ is looked after.
Coming to a plastic surgery clinic can be a daunting and nerve-wracking experience, so it is important that we put you at ease and make you feel welcomed and looked after throughout the process. Laura is a wonderful combination of a calm and gentle manner with efficiency and determination so you can be sure that she will see things through if she is set a task.

Plans for 2017

We are looking forward to growing the team in 2017 and we hope to expand the range of the services that we can offer, particularly in terms of developing our repertoire with local anaesthetic and sedation.

We have already successfully performed abdominoplasty, liposuction, mastopexy and gynaecomastia correction under sedation, removing the need for a general anaesthetic and in the right patient “ it is a great service to be able to offer.

There are not many clinics in the country that can offer this option, so we are proud to be at the forefront.