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Aesthetics
Most cosmetic surgery injections in the UK not administered by doctors
An analysis of the UK's cosmetic injectables industry by UCL researchers finds 68% of cosmetic practitioners who are administering injections such as Botox are not medical doctors.
The radical new theory that wrinkles cause ageing - New Scientist
Research from the plastic surgery team at the Royal Free and UCL has formed the basis of a new theory linking wrinkles to ageing.
Nine out of 10 beauty clinics breaking the law by advertising Botox - Guardian
Academics at UCL found 88% clinics in London are flouting regulations intended to protect public health banning the advertising of Botox and other forms of botulinum toxin.
Surgeon's virtual 'scrub-in' using new technology filmed by Sky
The Royal Free is the first UK trust to use an augmented reality platform that allows surgeons to direct operations taking place in other hospitals. Photo: Proximie.
Snapchat and Instagram filters should carry health warning
UCL's Professor Ash Mosahebi has joined other plastic surgeons to voice concerns about the potential dangers of Snapchat and Instagram filters for teenagers.
Our work
We aim to promote evidence-based work in aesthetic surgery, non-surgical aesthetics, and regenerative medicine. Our aims are:
- To advance critical understanding and evaluation of the clinical theory, practice, and associated research applied to the practice of Minimally Invasive Aesthetics, Aesthetic Surgery and Regenerative Medicine.
- To provide opportunities to apply the clinical theory, practice, and associated research in the provision of Minimally Invasive Aesthetics, Aesthetic Surgery and Regenerative Medicine.
- To provide opportunities to undertake independent research studies in Minimally Invasive Aesthetics, Aesthetic Surgery and Regenerative Medicine.
- To raise awareness on Aesthetic and Regenerative Surgery based on latest evidence via our network experts at Plastic Aesthetic Regenerative Specialists University London.
Our research covers many aspects of aesthetics and reconstructive surgery:
- Beauty concepts
- Public health
- Technology integration including the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Pharmacological aspects of the Botulinum toxin and soft tissue fillers including therapeutic efficacy and complication management
- Regenerative medicine
- Clinical trials in reconstructive surgery and microsurgery
- Developing novel surgical and educational technologies
- Clinical translation of image-guided technology for reconstructive surgery.
Ongoing works
- Clinical Trials
WAFER Trial
A multicentre randomised controlled trial led by the team at the Royal Free Hospital and UCL evaluating surgical repair of flexor tendon injury under local anaesthesia without a tourniquet compared to general or regional anaesthesia with a tourniquet.
- Status: Recruiting
- Chief investigator: Prof. Ash Mosahebi
- Co-investigator: Mr Dariush Nikkhah, Mr Muholan Kanapathy
- Funding: NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Grant
HIDRA Trial
A randomised controlled trial evaluating Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Instillation for Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa
- Status: Recruiting
- Chief Investigator: Prof. Ash Mosahebi
- Co-investigator: Mr Muholan Kanapathy
- Funding: Industry
EPIGRAAFT Trial
- Status: Completed
- Chief Investigator: Prof. Ash Mosahebi
- Co-investigator: Mr Muholan Kanapathy
- Funding: BAPRAS, UCL, Industry
- Aesthetics
The public health impact of the UK aesthetic injectables market
- Status: Active
- Chief Investigator: Prof. Ash Mosahebi
- Co-investigator: Mr David Zargaran
- Funding: QUAD A
- Supported by JCCP and CPSA
- Education
MetaSurgical
A cohort study exploring the use of metaverse technologies in Plastic Surgery sustainability and education
- Status: Recruiting soon
- Chief Investigator: Prof. Ash Mosahebi
- Co-investigator: Mr Alexander Zargaran, Mr David Zargaran
- Funding: CofFEE Grant
AesthetiSim
A serious videogame leveraging cutting-edge technologies including VR, AR and Haptics in Aesthetic Education
- Status: Prototype developed
- AI in Facial Aesthetics
AgeGAN
A Generative Adversarial Network using predictive analytics to apply to ageing and reverse ageing to facial photographs
- Status: Under development
UCL Aesthetics Faculty
Head: Prof. Ash Mosahebi
Dr Uliana Gout
Dr Koen de Boulle
NIHR Academic Surgical Trainee
Funding / Partnerships
We work closely with the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (BAAPS), Aesthetic Surgery Journal of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) on areas of common interest.
Our research is funded by several grants from National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), UCL, British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), and industries.
We also work in collaboration with industry nationally and internationally. Our public health work evaluating the impact of the UK aesthetic injectables industry is supported by QUAD A.
This work is further supported by the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), the Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority (CPSA) and other faculties within UCL - the Global Business School for Health and the Department of Computer Sciences.
Select publications
- Kanapathy M, Faderani R, Mosahebi A, Nikkhah D, et al. (2023) WAFER trial: a study protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial comparing wide-awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) to general and regional anaesthesia with tourniquet for flexor tendon repair. BMJ Open.
- Zargaran D, Zargaran A, Mosahebi A, et al. (2023) O161 Profiling UK injectable aesthetic practitioners: a national cohort analysis. British Journal of Surgery.
- Dancey A, Kanapathy M, Mosahebi A, et al. (2023) Summary document on safety and recommendations on liposuction for lipoedema: Joint British Association of aesthetic plastic surgeons (BAAPS)/British Association of plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgeons (BAPRAS) expert liposuction group. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg.
- Zargaran D, Zargaran A, Sousi S, Mosahebi A, et al. (2023) Cosmetic business mechanics in London: A cross-sectional analysis and audit of ASA compliance. J Cosmet Dermatol.
- Morkuzu S, Kanapathy M, Mosahebi A, et al. (2023) Use of Activated Platelet Rich Plasma (A-PRP) on Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses. Aesthet Surg.
- Zargaran D, Zargaran A, Mosahebi A, et al. (2022) 927 An Analysis of the United Kingdom Education Courses for Aesthetic Practice. British Journal of Surgery.
- Zargaran D, Zargaran A, Mosahebi A, et al. (2022) Facial skin ageing: Key concepts and overview of processes. Int J Cosmet Sci.
- Zargaran D, Zargaran A, Mosahebi A, et al. (2022) Complications of Cosmetic Botulinum Toxin A Injections to the Upper Face: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Aesthet Surg.
- Kanapathy M, Nikkhah D, Singh P, Mosahebi A, et al. (2022) A neuro-plastics approach for extracranial-to-intracranial bypass: Video and technical considerations. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg.
- Zargaran D, Zargaran A, Weyrich T. & Mosahebi, A. (2022). Are NFTs the Answer to Cowboy Cosmetics? Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 42 (7).
- Birkett L, Dhar S, Singh P & Mosahebi, A. (2022). Botulinum Toxin A in the Management of Acne Vulgaris: Evidence and Recommendations. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 42 (7), NP507-NP509.
- McCaughran PW, Zargaran D, Southall C, Mosahebi A, et al. (2022). WALANT: Perceptions, approaches, and contraindications in a tertiary hand surgery unit. Hand Surgery & Rehabilitation, 41 (3), 311-316.
- Rahman E, Banerjee PS, Asghar A, Gupta NK & Mosahebi A. (2022). Botulinum Toxin Type A Immunogenicity across Multiple Indications: An Overview Systematic Review. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 149 (4), 837-848.
- Kanapathy M, Burentuvshin O, Varghese J, Mosahebi A., et al. (2022). Priority setting in breast reconstructive surgery: A DELPHI consensus. Journal of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, 75 (4), 1297-1315.
- Goldie K, Cumming D, Voropai D, Mosahebi A, et al. (2021). Aesthetic Delusions: An Investigation into the Role of Rapid Visual Adaptation in Aesthetic Practice. Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 14, 1079-1087.
- Sadideen H, Akhavani MA, Mosahebi A & Harris PA. (2020). Current perceptions of 'Brazilian butt lift' (BBL) surgery in the UK: A BAAPS-led survey of BAAPS members. Journal of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, 73 (11), 1966-1975.
- Georgiou AK, Singh P, Hever P, Arize C & Mosahebi A. (2020). The use of indocyanine green in plastic surgery. Journal of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, 73 (9), E8-E9.
Facilities
The multidisciplinary research team are based across world-class facilities at the UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Sciences and NHS clinicians based at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust Hospital.
Related Courses
Recent events
Last Event: 09-10 September 2023 | ASiT x PLASTA x Royal Free Hackathon
Recent international presentations
- Promoting sustainable surgery, the future of plastic surgery and implementation of machine learning: an evaluation of a plastic surgery hackathon. BAPRAS 2023., Amsterdam.
- WAFER Trial, BSSH Spring Scientific Meeting, Wales, April 2023.
- Conversational Artificial Intelligence in Plastic Surgery: A systematic review. ICOPLAST 2023, Dubai.
- Profiling UK injectable aesthetic practitioners: a national cohort analysis. ICOPLAST 2023, Dubai.
- Cosmetic Business Mechanics in London: A Cross-Sectional Analysis and Audit of ASA Compliance. ICOPLAST 2023, Dubai.
- A Systematic Review of the Impact of TikTok on Plastic Surgery. ICOPLAST 2023, Dubai.
- UK Aesthetics Associations: A Robust Safety Net or Credibility Accessories? ICOPLAST 2023, Dubai.
- A systematic review of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) in Plastic Surgery. Podium Presentation, ICOPLAST 2023, Dubai.
- Complications of facial cosmetic Botulinum Toxin A injections: a systematic review and meta-analysis. ISAPS (2022). Istanbul.
- A NeuroPlastic Approach for Microsurgical Extracranial-to-Intracranial Brain Bypass. 11th Congress of World Society foe Reconstructive Microsurgery 2022, Mexico.
