As a Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeon, I perform a variety of procedures over the course of a standard week. However, this past week has been a particularly busy and rewarding one; five patients underwent breast reconstruction with a DIEP flap under my care.
The cases were a blend of immediate and delayed reconstructions, some unilateral and others bilateral, including a complex bipedicled flap where we used the entire lower abdomen of an athletic patient to reconstruct a single breast.
These procedures reflect the wide-ranging techniques involved in modern reconstructive breast surgery. They also highlight something I believe in deeply: high-volume microsurgery, when done with consistency, precision, and support, leads to better patient outcomes.
I’m privileged to work at The Nightingale Centre, Europe’s largest breast screening centre. Here, in one of the most active breast units in the UK, my NHS practice is dedicated almost exclusively to autologous breast reconstruction; using a patient’s own tissue to rebuild the breast, typically from the abdomen, as in DIEP flaps.
Our reconstructive practice regularly hosts national and international fellows; fully qualified plastic surgeons undertaking sub-specialist training in breast reconstruction. Sharing knowledge is a core part of what we do, and it ensures that excellence in care is sustained beyond a single centre or country.
My own microsurgical expertise have been refined internationally, having trained in Melbourne, the birthplace of the first free flap procedure. That global training, combined with thousands of hours in theatre, has helped me become one of the highest-volume microvascular surgeons in the UK. I’m also honoured to serve as the UK National Flap Registry Lead, ensuring that quality data helps drive safe, effective surgical practice across the country.
However, numbers and titles aside, what truly matters is how that experience benefits patients.
Performing these complex operations regularly, both in the NHS and private practice, allows us to offer a level of care that is difficult to replicate in lower-volume centres. It means:
- Shorter operative times – reducing time under anaesthetic and aiding faster recovery
- Enhanced recovery protocols – evidence-based and consistently applied
- Highly skilled theatre teams – performing DIEP flaps daily, making the process safe and efficient
- Experienced ward teams – including nurses, physiotherapists, and breast reconstruction nurses who understand the post-op journey inside and out
- Specialist support pre- and post-surgery – ensuring patients feel informed, cared for, and confident at every stage
- High-quality outcomes and low complication rates – reflecting a system that functions with precision
- Expertise in managing complications – should they arise, because safe surgery is also about knowing how to respond when things don’t go to plan
Importantly, patients aren’t limited to one type of reconstruction. My practice offers all modern reconstructive options, including:
- DIEP and other abdominal flaps
- Thigh-based flaps
- Implant-based reconstruction
- Complex revisional surgery, including lipofilling, chest wall perforator flaps, and implant revision
If you’re considering breast reconstruction, immediate or delayed, I would be pleased to discuss your options and help you make an informed, confident decision about your care. For more information or to book a consultation, please call 0161 260 0131 or request a call back here.