Plastic surgery
Overview
World class plastic surgery at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Plastic surgery (also known as reconstructive surgery) is used to repair and reconstruct damaged tissue and skin, to restore normal function or appearance. The term ‘cosmetic surgery’ is often confused with plastic surgery. Cosmetic surgery procedures, like so-called ‘nose jobs’, are primarily carried out to achieve a more desirable look for patients, whereas plastic surgery is used to correct existing medical conditions or flaws.
NHS plastic surgery performed by leading plastic surgeons in the UK
The Royal Free Hospital was established as a centre of excellence for plastic and reconstructive surgery in memory of those who died and were maimed in the 7/7 bombings in the capital. Our world-renowned team of plastic surgeons provide innovative plastic surgery techniques to NHS and private patients.
The NHS provides cosmetic surgery only in exceptional cases, but NHS plastic surgery is provided to patients who require reconstruction surgery.
We cover a wide range of procedures, from simple operations like laser wart removal, to pioneering surgeries. We have extensively researched and planned the procedures for full face transplants although we have not carried one out.
Where to find our plastic surgery clinic
Depending on the required plastic surgery, and individual circumstances, patients are admitted to our plastic surgery clinic as day cases or in-patients but you can usually leave hospital within a short period of time. Our London plastic surgery clinic is in Clinic 4 on the first floor of the Royal Free Hospital. Our adult plastic surgery ward is on the 7th floor of the Royal Free Hospital.
See the left hand navigation for more information about our leading plastic and reconstruction surgery.
Contact
Do you have an appointment?
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The Royal Free Hospital
Pond Street
London
NW3 2QGPatient enquiries: 020 7443 9757
GP enquiries: 020 7794 0500 x 36988
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Mount Vernon Hospital
Rickmansworth Road
Northwood
Middlesex
HA6 2RNPatient enquiries: 01923 844447/01923 844952 (hand therapy unit)
Referrals
Referral details
To avoid delay GP referrals should be addressed to a plastic consultant surgeon or a named consultant surgeon.
For routine and urgent appointments
GP referrals should be faxed to 020 7830 2195 or sent to the plastic surgery department, lower ground floor, Royal Free Hospital. For any GP target referrals for cancer pathways please direct these to the new referral office on the fax number: 020 7433 2951/020 7433 2950.
Online Plastic Surgery Trauma Referral
Also via online (GPs only via HSCN).
For referrals to the laser service
Your GP will need to refer you to a consultant, who will assess your suitability for laser treatment first. If your condition is suitable to be treated by one of our lasers, you will then be given an appointment for the laser clinic. This can be arranged via Choose and Book or by sending in a referral letter.
Patients should be referred to Mr. N. Kang or Mr. A. Mosahebi: Laser clinic, clinic 14, ground floor, 020 7794 0500 ext 31312.
For referrals to the hand therapy unit:
Referrals from Royal Free Hospital consultants are accepted routinely for post-operative patients. Referrals from Camden GPs are accepted at the Royal Free Hospital and Hillingdon GPs can refer patients to the hand service at Mount Vernon Hospital. Referrals for both adult and paediatric patients are accepted.
Camden GPs can write a referral letter to the hand therapy unit, first floor, Royal Free Hospital. Mount Vernon GPs can write a referral letter to the hand therapy unit, treatment centre, Mount Vernon Hospital.
The Team
Consultant
Mr Yazan Ajam
Locum consultant plastic surgeon
PA/secretary phone number: 020 77940 500 ext 38589
PA/secretary email address: cassiana.charles@nhs.net
Mr Mo Akhavani
Consultant plastic surgeon
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 38589
PA/secretary email address: cassiana.charles@nhs.net
Fax: 020 7830 2195
Professor Peter Butler
Consultant plastic surgeon
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 31907
PA/secretary email address: Gerd Attah
Mr Shadi Ghali
Consultant plastic surgeon and clincial lead.
Phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 35556
Email address: shadi.ghali@nhs.net
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 35556
PA/secretary email address: gerd.attah@nhs.net
Mr Stephen Hamilton
Clinical director plastic surgery and breast surgery, consultant plastic surgeon
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 35556
PA/secretary email address: gerd.attah@nhs.net
Fax: 020 7830 2195
Dr Esther Hansen
Consultant clinical psychologist
Email address: rf.psychologicaltherapies@nhs.net
Private practice email address: info@estherhansen.co.uk
Mr Norbert Kang
Consultant plastic and hand surgeon
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 38589
PA/secretary email address: catherine.kaniu@nhs.net
Private practice phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 33671
Private practice email address: karolina.burkiewicz@nhs.net
Mr Ash Mosahebi
Consultant plastic surgeon
Phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 31302
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 31302
PA/secretary email address: tausif.nazir@nhs.net
Miss Naghmeh Naderi
Locum consultant plastic surgeon
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 38589
PA/secretary email address: cassiana.charles@nhs.net
Mr Dariush Nikkhah
Consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon
PA/secretary phone number: 0207 794 0500 ext 31459
PA/secretary email address: catherine.kaniu@nhs.net
Private practice email address: mrnikkhah@theclinic.co.uk
Mr Greg O’Toole
Consultant plastic surgeon
Phone number: 020 7794 0500
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 31459
PA/secretary email address: sharonkaur2@nhs.net
Mr Allan Ponniah
Consultant plastic and craniofacial surgeon
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 31459
PA/secretary email address: sharonkaur2@nhs.net
Mr Walid Sabbagh
Consultant plastic surgeon
PA/secretary phone number: 0207 794 0500 ext 31459
PA/secretary email address: catherine.kaniu@nhs.net
Mr Nilesh Sojitra
Consultant plastic surgeon
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 31459
PA/secretary email address: sharonkaur2@nhs.net
Mr Neil Toft
Consultant plastic surgeon
Phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 38589
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 38589
PA/secretary email address: cassiana.charles@nhs.net
Fax: 020 7830 2195
Mr Simon Withey
Consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 35556
PA/secretary email address: gerd.attah@nhs.net
Mr Alexander Woollard
Consultant plastic surgeon
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 31302
PA/secretary email address: tausif.nazir@nhs.net
Fax: 020 7830 2195
Mr Ibby Younis
Consultant plastic surgeon
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 31459
PA/secretary email address: sharonkaur2@nhs.net
Nursing team
Miss Rebecca Canny
Clinical nurse specialist, plastic and reconstructive surgery
Phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext. 37534
Email address: rebecca.canny@nhs.net
Miss Lucy Twyman
Clinical nurse specialist - plastic surgery/outreach
Email address: lucytwyman@nhs.net
Patient leaflets
Read our patient leaflets and publications
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Psychology support for risk-reducing breast surgery
.pdf (169 KB)
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Psychology support for breast reconstruction surgery
.pdf (154 KB)
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The clinical psychology service in the plastic and reconstructive surgery team
.pdf (442 KB)
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Self-care guide to wound dressings (Large Print)
.pdf (408 KB)
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Self-care guide to wound dressings
.pdf (174 KB)
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Information about the Cosmetic Surgery Tribunal at the Royal Free London (Large Print)
.pdf (176 KB)
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DIEP flap reconstruction for breast cancer patients
.pdf (578 KB)
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DIEP flap reconstruction for breast cancer patients (Large Print)
.pdf (817 KB)
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About keloid and hypertrophic scars
.pdf (158 KB)
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Approved: 25/08/2022
Information about the Cosmetic Surgery Tribunal at the Royal Free London
.pdf (390 KB)
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Approved: 07/09/2021
About triamcinolone acetonide intradermal injection 10mg/ml for keloid and hypertrophic scars
.pdf (172 KB)
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Approved: 07/09/2021
About lidocaine 2.5%/prilocaine 2.5% cream for micropigmentation
.pdf (136 KB)
In this section
- Ear reconstruction surgery
- Facial reconstruction and face transplants
- Hand therapy
- Laser clinic
- Plastic surgery outreach service
- Preparing for plastic surgery
- Prosthetic limbs and body parts
- Psychological services – plastic surgery
- Breast reconstruction awareness group
- Craniofacial unit
- Royal Free hand unit