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Despite the fact that over 90% of people having cosmetic surgery in the last 15 years have been women, BAAPS has always been led by men, a trend reflected across all surgical specialties. Figures from the Royal College of Surgeons show that, between 1991 and 2020 the number of consultants who are female has risen from 3% to 13.2%. Women are now represented in all 10 surgical specialties and at all levels within a surgical career. Plastic surgery has the second highest female representation of approximately 21% (the first being paediatrics).
Commenting on her new role Miss O’Brien says, “I am very grateful to many mentors both male and female who helped me to pursue a career that I love. Plastic surgeons are not defined by their gender but rather their training and skill set. I hope to be able to continue to contribute to training future generations of plastic surgeons in this fulfilling career. With regard to the BAAPS, it is an association that primarily treats female patients. I hope that a professional female perspective will provide a healthy balance and contribution to its leadership."
O’Brien will continue to spearhead BAAPS’ mission to promote safety and tighter regulation within the sector. She says, “Cosmetic tourism, unscrupulous advertising and marketing, irresponsible agencies that sell surgery targeting vulnerable groups, and the promotion of unrealistic expectations all concern me. Aesthetic surgery in itself aims to address a specific issue and with it promote psychological and physical wellbeing, so that patients can move on with their lives from focusing on a physical aspect of their body that psychologically distresses them. This can only be achieved with appropriate patient selection and a clear understanding of realistic expectations of surgery and postoperative rehabilitation.”
