General

Alok Misra is a consultant plastic surgeon offering bespoke cosmetic surgery to patients in London and the south east.

He trained at UCL Medical School, gaining the MBBS qualifications and the Chadwick prize in preventative medicine and public health. He then spent time training as a junior surgeon in Greater London and then was granted entry to the West Midlands plastic surgery programme; spending 6 years training in plastic and cosmetic surgery.

In 2007 Alok passed the FRCS (Plast) exam and then specialised in microvascular reconstruction of the breast, face and lower limb at the internationally renowned Chang Gung Hospital (Taiwan) and Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit (Glasgow) before undertaking further aesthetic fellowship training.

Following this he was appointed consultant plastic surgeon in East Yorkshire, where he specialised in reconstructive breast surgery (including the DIEP flap) for breast cancer patients and facial reconstruction, before returning to London.

Mr Misra currently practices as consultant plastic surgeon at Heatherwood, Wexham and Frimley Park Hospitals, with an interest in hand and wrist surgery, all aspects of aesthetic breast surgery, skin cancer, microvascular reconstruction and abdominal and perineum reconstruction.

Cosmetic surgery procedures performed at Centre for Surgery

• Rhinoplasty
• Blepharoplasty
• Facelift
• Brow lift
• Neck lift
• Submental liposuction
• Otoplasty
• Earlobe repair
• Breast augmentation
• Breast lift
• Breast reduction
• Inverted nipple correction
• Nipple reduction
• Areola reduction
• Gynecomastia
• Liposuction
• Abdominoplasty
• Umbilicoplasty
• Arm lift
• Thigh lift

Personal interests

Alok likes to keep fit and is a keen outdoor runner. He enjoys good food, travel and reading, especially philosophy. Alok has a large music collection of 80’s pop music.

Languages spoken

English

Riaz Agha is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon based in Harley Street, London. He graduated from Guy’s, King’s and St. Thomas’ Medical School in London with distinctions and a 1st in his intercalated BSc in Anatomy. He has been awarded 50 academic prizes from institutions like the University of Oxford, the Royal Society of Medicine and the British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (BAPRAS).  Mr Agha has published 200 scientific papers and given 150 presentations at national or international level. His research has been cited over 8,000 times and he has written book chapters on nipple and breast anatomy, nipple sparing mastectomy and contributed numerous research papers in the area of fat grafting to the breast to the scholarly literature, including the VOGUE Study.

He completed his Plastic Surgical training in in the prestigious London Deanery training programme rotating around units including: Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals, King’s College Hospital, Queen Victoria Hospital, Chelsea and Westminster, Royal Free, Royal Marsden and Royal London Hospitals. Additional fellowship level reconstructive (microsurgical) and aesthetic training occurred in London and in Belgium.  In 2018, he completed his doctorate in Evidence-based Healthcare at Balliol College, University of Oxford.  At Oxford he was awarded the Clarendon Scholarship, given to the top 1% of 20,000 graduate applicants. He subsequently completed his post-doc

In 2010, he was awarded a Scholarship from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for his project on national surgical surveillance. He subsequently worked with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to improve the coverage and focus of their indicators for acute hospital services. In addirtion, he developed Projections for the NHS Outcomes Framework 2012-13 for the Department of Health and Sir Bruce Keogh.

Mr Agha founded the International Journal of Surgery (IJS) as a medical student and this has grown to become one of the most prestigious international surgical journals with over 10,000 articles published amongst the IJS and its sister journals with 7,000,000 annual downloads. He is a council member for the Section of Plastic Surgery at the Royal Society of Medicine with board level appointments to; the Elsevier Editorial System Advisory Board, Map of Medicine Fellows Board and the Association of Surgeons in Training. He sits on the Web Committee for the World Association of Medical Editors and has built two websites for NATO. He is formerly a Council Member for the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and an Ambassador for Enterprise UK.

He has been a Consultant on healthcare and technology to a member of the Joint Ventures Board of the Bank of Scotland, former Vice-Chairman of the Governing Council of University College London and the former Chairman of the Further Education Council. He was cited as an “inspirational entrepreneur” by The Rt. Hon. John Hutton MP, Former Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform at his keynote speech during Enterprise week 2007. In 2014 he was awarded Freedom of the City of London and more recently he has become an NHS Clinical Entrepreneur.

Mr Agha prides himself on giving patients safe, effective and high-quality care. He deploys the latest techniques and technologies where appropriate to meet his patients expectations and enhance their quality of life.  He works to the highest standards of communication, professionalism and ethics and would be delighted to meet you.

Cosmetic surgery procedures performed at Centre for Surgery:

• Brow lift
• Blepharoplasty
• Otoplasty
• Earlobe repair
• Forehead osteoma removal
• Breast augmentation
• Breast implant removal
• Breast implant exchange
• Breast lift
• Breast reduction
• Breast asymmetry correction
• Fat transfer to breasts
• Inverted nipple correction
• Nipple reduction
• Areola reduction
• Gynecomastia
• Liposuction
• Abdominal etching
• Abdominoplasty
• Mummy makeover
• Umbilicoplasty
• Arm lift
• Thigh lift
• Brazilian Butt Lift
• Lipoma removal

Undergoing cosmetic surgery can be an exciting and life-changing experience. In many cases, it is a much-needed confidence and self-esteem boost.

It is therefore understandable that you will want to enjoy the results of your cosmetic procedure for as long as possible. Fortunately, there are steps you can follow to ensure your results last.

So how can you maintain your cosmetic surgery results?

Exercising

This is particularly important if you have had a body contouring procedure including liposuction. Unfortunately, having a body contouring surgical procedure doesn’t mean you can stop looking after your body.

If you avoid exercising after having liposuction, you may find you will gain weight again. While you will not gain weight in the areas which you had treated by liposuction, the areas that were not treated are still susceptible to weight gain.

Directly after the procedure, you will need to take it easy with exercise and make sure you get plenty of rest. However, once you have fully recovered, you should aim to incorporate 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day into your routine.

Healthy diet

As well as exercise, you need to make sure you stick to a healthy diet in order to avoid post-op weight gain. We recommend avoiding foods that are high in sugar and processed fat. Instead, make sure to include fruit, vegetables, grains and lean protein into your diet.

If you’re not sure exactly what you need to eat, your surgeon may be able to help you figure out what to eat to speed up your recovery and maintain your results.

Skin care

This is something you should follow regardless of whether you had surgery. However, this is particularly important if you had laser treatments or facial rejuvenation.

Taking care of your skin will even help to minimise the appearance of scars if you had an incision. Make sure you keep your skin moisturised and cleansed. This will help to ensure not only will you continue to enjoy the results of your procedure, but you will continue to look youthful and rejuvenated.

Sun protection

After you’ve had a surgical or laser procedure, you will be advised to avoid excess sun and heat exposure. Getting sunburnt can damage and age your skin. It can cause problems with scars such as pigmentation.

When you are going out in the sun, make sure to apply a high SPF sunscreen to help protect your skin. Consider wearing longer clothing or wearing a hat to help prevent as much sun exposure to the face.

There are numerous benefits to applying sunscreen before going outside. Sunscreen helps to block against the suns radiation and can help prevent wrinkles and fine lines in the skin, as well as blotchy skin. Applying sunscreen will also help to protect the collagen, keratin and elastin in the skin.

Follow the surgeon’s instructions

During your consultation and after your procedure, your surgeon will give you instructions which you need to follow to have the best post-op recovery period possible. Depending on what surgery you had, you may need to wear compression garments, avoid bathing or avoid exercising and heavy lifting. There may even be medications which you need to take (such as antibiotics) or medications you will need to avoid.

Not following these instructions can cause complications to occur. Make sure to always follow the instructions the surgeon and the medical team give you. If you have any problems, you will be encouraged to contact the surgeon for clarification or return to the clinic for a follow-up appointment.

Prior to undergoing any cosmetic surgery procedure, your surgeon will advise you to stop consuming any alcoholic beverages. Most procedures will require you to stop drinking at least 48 hours prior to surgery and to avoid drinking alcohol during your recovery period.

But why exactly shouldn’t you drink alcohol before and after surgery?

Alcohol consumption prior to and after surgery can cause numerous complications. This includes:

1. Complications with the anaesthetic

If you are having an invasive procedure, you will be given a general anaesthetic. At Centre for Surgery, this is known as ClearSleep™. Prior to surgery, the anaesthetist will need to estimate the correct dosage to give you. Alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of the anaesthetic; if you have been drinking, the anaesthetist may not have given you enough sedatives.

If you have been drinking, the anaesthetist and the surgeon have the right to cancel your surgery, as they may consider it to be too unsafe to proceed.

2. Blood-thinning

If you are undergoing an invasive procedure, chances are there will be some blood loss. To avoid excessive blood loss, it’s particularly important that your blood clots as it normally does. However, alcohol acts as a blood thinner and will impact how effectively your blood can clot. This can cause serious problems, particularly if something does go wrong during your procedure.

This can also cause problems after your procedure. Invasive procedures will involve an incision which will take time to heal after surgery. Having alcohol in your system can result in the wound not healing properly, which can lead to further complications, such as scarring or wound infection.

3. Drying your skin

Many people choose to undergo facial and skin procedures to help turn back the clock and rejuvenate their face. It’s important to keep in mind that all your hard work to look younger can be undone by alcohol. Alcohol, especially when consumed in excess, can cause your skin to dehydrate and dry out. If your skin is too dry, cracks may even appear. This not only makes you look older than you are but can also cause complications for the surgeon during your procedure. To achieve the best results, it’s best to avoid excessive alcohol consumption, and avoid any alcohol before and after your surgery.

4. Increases swelling

After surgery, it is understandable that you want to see the results of your procedure as soon as possible. Unfortunately, most invasive cosmetic procedures will result in swelling, and you will have to wait for that to subside before you are able to see the final results. If you have been drinking prior to your surgery, or you decide to drink during your recovery period, you may notice that you will have increased swelling. This means that your recovery period will be longer, and in some cases, increased swelling can cause physical pain.

5. Alcohol doesn’t mix with medication

Following your procedure, you may be given pain medication or even antibiotics. Alcohol can not only reduce the effectiveness of these medications but can also result in dangerous side effects, such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, fainting, loss of coordination, breathing difficulty or even heart problems. Make sure you are finished taking any medication before you decide to start consuming alcohol again.

6. The recovery will be longer

Most people will want to have the shortest recovery period possible. During the recovery period, you may have to take time off work, avoid exercise and may have side effects such as swelling, bruising or redness, to name a few. To have the quickest recovery you will want to make sure your autoimmune system is not compromised. Unfortunately, alcohol can have a negative impact on your autoimmune system. Alcohol thins the blood, which can result in complications related to wound healing.

To achieve the optimum results, it is best to follow the pre-surgery and post-surgery instructions your surgeon gives you. It is important to remember your surgeon may cancel your procedure if they think you have been drinking alcohol and it will be too dangerous to proceed with surgery.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact your surgeon or the team here at Centre for Surgery. 

Undergoing cosmetic surgery can be an exciting time in your life, particularly if it is a surgery you have been wanting for years. After spending a large amount of money on plastic surgery, it is understandable that you will want the results to last as long as possible. For some people, this will mean making some changes to your daily routine following your cosmetic surgery procedure.

So what lifestyles changes will you have to make after having cosmetic surgery?

1. Rest

You may want to get back to your normal routine as soon as you have surgery. However, if you had a particularly invasive procedure, it will be important to get sufficient rest during your recovery period. Exactly how long you will need to rest and alter your routine will vary from surgery to surgery. If you had a non-surgical procedure, you may be able to resume your usual routine straight away. However, procedures such as breast augmentation or abdominoplasty will require you to take some time off work and avoid strenuous physical exercise and heavy lifting. This will ensure you avoid any complications and do not damage the wound.

2. Follow a healthy diet

Unfortunately, having liposuction does not mean you will be able to eat whatever you want and not have to worry about gaining weight. After having any cosmetic surgery, you will have to make sure you follow a healthy diet. There are even certain foods you may wish to eat to help speed up your recovery.

After surgery, make sure you are eating a lot of fruits, vegetables and consume enough protein. You’ll want to avoid foods that are high in saturated and trans fat, as well as surgery and processed food. This will help to ensure you stay in the best shape possible and are able to enjoy the results of your cosmetic procedure.

3. Get enough exercise

Following your cosmetic procedure, you will need to ensure you are getting enough physical exercise every day. During the recovery period, you will have to be careful with what exercises you undertake. Walking will be encouraged in order to avoid the legs becoming stiff and blood clots occurring. Once the recovery period is over, you will be able to undertake more vigorous physical exercises, including core exercises and heavy lifting.

You should be aiming to do at least 30 minutes of exercise per day.

4. Stop smoking

If you are a smoker, prior to having cosmetic surgery you will be required to stop smoking. Smoking can have numerous negative effects on the body during and after plastic surgery, including complications with wound healing. If your surgeon knows you are still smoking, your procedure may be cancelled, as it may be deemed too risky to go ahead. You will also be required to stop smoking after surgery until the recovery period is completely over. This will allow you to have the quickest possible recovery.

5. Stay hydrated

It sounds simple, but it can be easy to forget to drink enough water every day. Being dehydrated can delay the recovery period. If you are experiencing a lot of headaches or have dry lips, it may be a sign that you are not drinking enough water.

6. Get enough sleep

Getting enough rest and enough sleep during the recovery period is crucial. This will allow your body to fully recover from surgery. Not getting enough sleep can have numerous negative effects on your day to day life. A lack of sleep can cause irritability, a lack of concentration, and can cause you to experience a low mood. Not getting enough sleep for a prolonged period of time can even lead to medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity or high blood pressure.

Most people will need to get eight hours of sleep to function properly the following day.

Undertaking these healthy lifestyle changes will ensure you will be able to be in the best shape possible and enjoy the results of your cosmetic surgery for as long as possible.

Are you thinking about having cosmetic surgery? Undergoing cosmetic surgery is a huge decision for most people. Before undergoing any cosmetic procedure, whether surgical or non-surgical, it is important to consider every detail to ensure you are happy with your decision and the end result.

So what exactly should you think about before having cosmetic surgery?

1. Why do I want to have surgery?

The most important thing to question is why do you actually want to undergo a cosmetic procedure? Before being considered as an appropriate candidate for any procedure, a surgeon will assess you and ensure you are undergoing surgery for the right reason. If you are undergoing surgery to make someone else happy, the surgeon may not wish to proceed with surgery. Make sure to think about what specifically you are wanting to change, and what the reasons are for changing it.

2. Are there other options?

For some procedures, you may be able to achieve the same look without having to undergo surgery. For example, you can undertake a non-surgical rhinoplasty, which can alter the appearance of your nose with the use of fillers. This also gives you the chance to reverse the procedure if you do not like your new look. If you do decide to undertake surgery, in this example, a rhinoplasty, it may be expensive to reverse or alter your appearance after the first procedure. Make sure you have explored all of your non-surgical options before deciding to undertake surgery.

3. Do you have realistic expectations?

Are you expecting the surgery to just change the appearance of one part of your body, or do you think the procedure will change other aspects of your life? Does what can be achieved surgically match up with what you are imagining the results to be? You may not be considered a suitable candidate if you are wanting the procedure to help change parts of your life such as a relationship, your social life or work.

4. How long have I thought about this procedure?

Has this been a procedure you have been wanting to have for years, or is this just a snap decision? What made you have this snap decision? If you have just decided to have this procedure, you may want to consider holding off going under the knife. If you’ve made a snap decision, you may be unhappy with your decision in a few years time. Centre for Surgery always advises that you take at least two weeks between your consultation and your surgical procedure.

5. Can I really afford this procedure?

Cosmetic surgery can sometimes be expensive. Fortunately, you do not always have to pay for your procedure all in one go. For those who can’t afford to pay for their procedure upfront, you can choose to undertake a loan, whether that is through your clinic or through your bank. Before doing this, it is important to consider whether or not you will get approved for this loan, and whether or not you will be able to afford the repayments. If the repayments are going to make it hard to pay your rent, mortgage, loans, or even buy food, you may want to reconsider taking out a loan and save up some money for a while longer.

6. What happens if something goes wrong?

Complications are rare, but sometimes they do happen. Have you thought about what you would do if your procedure does not go to plan? Will you be able to cope if the results look different to how you imagined? What will happen if you need to undergo a second surgical procedure? Will you be able to afford further surgeries and time off work? Make sure you are prepared for the rare case of something going wrong with your procedure and how you are going to cope with it.

7. Is now the right time to have a procedure?

Think about what else is happening in your life right now and what you have planned for the near future. Will anything be negatively affected by you undergoing the procedure? Is there anything in your life that will impact your recovery?

When considering having cosmetic surgery make sure you are never feeling rushed or pressured into undertaking a procedure. Make sure that no one – your family, friends, clinic staff or the surgeon – has put any unnecessary pressure on you. Do some research before having any procedure. Get a good understanding of not only the procedure you’re having and its recovery period, but research the clinic and the surgeon. Always make sure you are comfortable with the people you are dealing with and the decisions you are making. This will help you to be happy with the end result and will avoid any regrets.

The recovery period can often be one of the biggest parts of a cosmetic surgery. During this period you need to ensure you relax and avoid strenuous activities which could injure the incision site. This period may make you wish time would speed up so you can see the results and get back to your usual daily routine quicker. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to speed up the recovery period. These steps also involve eating the correct foods.

So what should you eat to speed up recovery after surgery?

1. Vegetables

Vegetables are packed full of vitamins and minerals which will help you to speed up your recovery. They’re also a great source of fibre and will help you fight off any fatigue.

It’s best to try and eat fresh and cooked vegetables, however, frozen and canned are also good if fresh is not an option. Try to avoid processed vegetables.

Vegetables which you should eat during your recovery include broccoli, sweet potato, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower and leafy greens such as spinach and kale.

2. Fresh fruits

Much like vegetables, fresh fruits have all the vitamins and minerals you need to help feel better while you recover.

Berries not only contain vitamin C but are also high in antioxidants which will help rebuild collagen and will keep your immune system strong. Make sure to eat strawberries, blueberries, pomegranates and raspberries. To help reduce inflammation you can also eat pineapple and papaya.

3. Fibre

Along with plenty of water, high fibre foods will help to ensure you have regular bowel movements and avoid constipation.

Foods high in fibre include fruit, vegetables, whole grains, cereals, beans and legumes.

Make sure you avoid foods that can cause constipation, such as cheese, dairy, red meat, processed foods, dehydrated foods or sugary foods.

4. Whole grains

After surgery, you’ll feel tired and need to consume carbohydrates. This will not only help your muscles but help you get some extra energy.

Whole wheat and rye sour bread, whole grain cereal, brown rice or oats.

5. Protein

Protein is essential to consume during your recovery. However, you’ll want to be cautious about where you are sourcing your protein from. Try and avoid red meat. Instead, try chicken, pork or fish.

If you are vegetarian or vegan make sure to consume beans, tofu and lentils. You may also wish to have protein supplements to ensure you’re getting enough protein.

6. Healthy fats

Strengthen your immune system, fight off infections and keep your energy levels high with healthy fats.

Make sure to consume almonds, avocados, oily fish, olive oil and seeds.

7. Water

This technically isn’t food, but it’s an important one. You will need to remember to keep hydrated after your procedure. Many patients feel dehydrated following their surgical procedure.

Make sure that you’re drinking water – avoid caffeinated drinks, alcohol or sugary drinks.

Are you interested in a cosmetic surgery procedure? Contact us today for more information or to book a consultation.