Harley Street London. The Metropolis of Aesthetic Surgery
At the end, aesthetic surgery won me over. So, in April 2003, I settled down in London. London, the great Metropolis, the melting pot of peoples and customs.
My patients come from all over the world. Mainly from across Britain but also from India, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Arabia, Egypt, and, of course, Greece. I participate in numerous operations and the experience I gather is vast and priceless. Breast augmentation, tummy tuck, liposuction, face lift, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, the whole range of cosmetic surgery procedures. Filled with excitement, I start thinking how nice it would be to have a surgical technique that would ensure fewer complications and absence of postoperative pain while allowing the patient to return home the same day.
The birth of the Non-touch - no pain technique
In June 2003 I read two articles by John Tebbets on breast augmentation that changed, once and for all, my philosophy on breast surgery. The Texan-based surgeon had done what I was already thinking about. I followed his advice, then I modified the technique and somewhere along the way I also changed it.
My patients were astonished!!!
Results were spectacular. By following 6 steps preoperatively, intra-operatively and postoperatively, I was able to finish the operation without any bleeding and within an average of 42 minutes. No drains, no tight compression garments and no bras. No bruises on 99% of patients. The Non-touch-no pain technique in breast augmentation was a fact. Breasts are not constrained after surgery!
Travelling hours after surgery. A revolution
As time was going by, doctor and patients were witnessing how amazing the results were. This is how we moved to the next incredible stage. Patients coming from afar would be able to travel back home on the same day of the surgery. So, my patients began to travel almost immediately after their breast augmentation procedure. From London to Newcastle, Edinburgh, Dublin, Paris, Brussels, Manchester, Dubai, etc.
From Athens to Mykonos, Santorini, Alexandroupolis, Thessaloniki, Kavala, Sofia, Tirana, Istanbul, Belgrade, Cyprus etc.
The longest journey in terms of flight time was from Athens to Dubai and the shortest was from Athens to Mykonos.
Happy patients
Patients couldn’t actually believe that they could go home on the same day. No patient experienced bleeding. By skipping drains and tight breast compression and by encouraging patients to move their arms and go out on the same night, we achieved an amazing recovery.
Patients straight after surgery
The Non touch - no pain technique! Its secrets
This had never happened before! It was a small revolution in the world of cosmetic surgery, and particularly in breast surgery.
The secret of the technique is simple and involves 6 key stages:
- Measurement of breast anatomy
Informing the patient of her options. By performing 5 measurements of the chest we can explain to the patient in full detail what should be done.
- Implant testing before surgery
Knowing what to expect, the patient then tries on the silicone implants. The patient can get a good idea of what her breasts will look like after surgery.
- The procedure is now fully atraumatic. The pocket is created with a special tool and not by hand (Non touch). This allows us to minimize haematoma and pain after surgery (No pain)
- Anaesthesia is modified. All medicines administered aim at reducing the feeling of nausea and vomiting almost to zero. No more volatile anaesthetics.
- Special postoperative exercises
- Special protocol for blood clots and trepidation prevention, involving white anti-thrombosis socks, Flowtron system for mechanical calf compression, appropriate temperature of 23oC during surgery, use of electric blanket.
Scientific achievements
In June 2015, the Non-touch no pain technique celebrated its 12th anniversary.
In these 12 years, 1650 patients were submitted to the procedure. My personal research that began in 2003 revealed that 320 patients were able to travel back home the same day. 158 travelled by plane, 24 by train, 126 by car and 12 by boat.
In 85% of patients pain was measured from 1-4, 13% of patients said they experienced pain from 5-6 and only 2% said the pain was too much.
Along with satisfied patients came scientific successes.
My first publication was in 2005 in PRS (Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery) and in 2007 in A.P.S (Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), in which I became a reviewer in 2013 (member of the magazine’s Scientific Editorial and Article Selection team). In 2007 I received a prize in Berlin. In 2012 I presented the technique on video at the large-scale ISAPS meeting.
In 2012 we presented the technique live on Greek TV MEGA Channel . The operation lasted 30 minutes, the patient was able to dress herself up in two hours, tie her own shoe-laces and put on make-up. In 5 hours, she was back at her house and she went out on a dinner at a well-known restaurant in Athens on the same night.
In 2013-2014 the technique was presented in three of the most prestigious scientific meetings for plastic and cosmetic surgery in the world.
My paper titled "travelling hours after breast augmentation" was warmly welcomed by the American Congress of Cosmetic Surgery in San Francisco and Plastic Surgery Professor Foad Nahai of Emory University School of Medicine and editor of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASJ) invited me to publish the results in the magazine. He commented that my paper was of significant interest and scientific importance.
Read the invitation by Professor Foad Nahai
How the non-touch-no pain technique became an award-winning story
Read more about breast augmentation
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