Consultant Q&A: Mr Oliver Harley

Q1. What can I expect during a consultation?

A. When you come for your consultation with me, the first part is really me listening carefully to your concerns and your objectives and trying to understand what it is that you want to make better or to change about yourself. Then of course, I have to examine and take some measurements and so on, to try and establish how to do whatever operation it is that we're planning. Then I will take quite a long time showing examples of typical cases so that you can appreciate what is possible to achieve and going over the details of the operation thoroughly. And don't worry, because if you forget anything I tell you in your consultation, I'll give you some very detailed information sheets to explain it all again. 

Q2. What are the benefits of combining liposuction with abdominoplasty?

A. People quite often ask me whether liposuction or abdominoplasty or a combination of both will be helpful for them. Abdominoplasty, tummy tuck, essentially removes a fold of skin and fat, which sit between your tummy button and your pubic area. Once that's gone, you have to stretch out the skin between the ribs and the tummy button to cover the whole area of your tummy. If you've got a lot of extra above the tummy button, that's still going to seem rather bulky when you pull it down. For people who are quite bulky around the upper part of their abdomen or even down the sides, they will find it much easier to get a good result if we add in liposuction. If you're already pretty slim and just have a bit of extra below the tummy button, then you can expect a very nice result by a simple abdominoplasty. 

Q3. How do I choose the right shape and size breast implants?

A. It's important to remember that your breast shape, whether you have implants or not, is mostly determined by your own natural breast characteristics. I think it's also important not to get too hung up on cup size, either before or after surgery, because cup sizing is actually rather an inaccurate and inconsistent way of measuring the breasts. The thing that is most important is when you come to your consultation, we try some sizes. We have some implant sizes, which allow us to simulate the effect that you might get from having certain sizes of implants. You put those in a bra, you put your clothes back on, and you try and see what your new body shape might look like. And then you go home and you can try again using uncooked rice in bags, so-called rice tests, which I would explain to you. Then in terms of shape overall, for patients who want to have a bit more of a natural type of look, we might choose a softer implant or one that's actually shaped, a teardrop type of implant. For patients who want a rounder look, we can use a firmer, rounder style of implant.