ABOUT US
We are a network of female Consultant Plastic Surgeons, who work in the U.K., and are committed to supporting each other.
Female Consultant Surgeons are a minority group. The ratio of male to female surgeons in the NHS is 8:1. In Plastic Surgery, females account for only 24% of all Consultants.
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The private healthcare system has a poorer distribution. Only 9% of female Plastic Surgery Consultants work in the private sector, whilst 64% of male Consultants have a private practice.
Our Mission is to to support female surgeons working in private practice, raise their visibility and empower women to achieve their potential.
MISSION
At our core, we are dedicated to supporting female surgeons and amplifying their visibility. We believe in empowering each woman to reach their full potential, fostering an environment where their contributions are recognised and celebrated. Together, we strive to create a community that uplifts and inspires the next generation of female leaders in surgery.
OBJECTIVES
TRAINING
We offer a range of educational and professional development opportunities, both face-to-face and virtual, designed to broaden perspectives, gain valuable insights, and sharpen essential skills.
Join us as we support your journey at every stage of your career, helping you to thrive and succeed in your Consultant careers.
PEER NETWORK
Our network of female Consultant Plastic Surgeons is dedicated to empowering women in plastic surgery by fostering connections and providing valuable resources.
Together, we create opportunities for networking, career advancement, and a stronger presence in the field. Join us in supporting one another and elevating our profession.​
INFLUENCE
Female Consultant Surgeons are an underrepresented group within the NHS and globally.
We are committed to expanding the numbers of women entering this specialty, as we believe that increasing female representation will lead to more women in leadership roles across the sector. Together, we can foster a more inclusive and diverse environment in healthcare.​​
HISTORY OF FEMALE PLASTIC SURGEONS
​​"The perfect surgeon must have the heart of a lion and the hands of a lady".
Attributed to Lord Moynihan, Abdominal Surgeon,1865 - 1936.
​​The first known female surgeon in the UK (in modern times) pretended to be a man to enter medical school and practice as a surgeon. Dr James Barry (born Margaret Anne Bulkley) graduated from Edinburgh Medical School in 1812 and passed the Royal College of Surgeons examinations in 1813. Dr Barry led a distinguished career in the military and was only discovered to be female at her death in 1865.
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Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was the first known female to qualify as a doctor in the UK in 1866. She had an illustrious career and also co-founded the London School of Medicine for Women in 1874, the first British medical school to train women as doctors. This new medical school trained the first woman recognised to become a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS). Eleanor Davies-Colley passed her FRCS examination in 1911 and established the South London Hospital for Women in 1912.
The first recognised Plastic Surgeon of modern times is usually described as Sir Harold Gillies, who opened up the first facial reconstruction hospital in Sidcup in 1917 in response to casualties arriving from the first world war. However, a French woman, Dr Suzanne Noel, also treated World War I survivors and had a career spanning 1916 - 1950.
Anne Sutherland was the first women appointed as a Consultant Plastic Surgeon in the UK in the 1960s. She went on to become the first and only female president of BAPS in 1987. BAPS became BAPRAS in 2005 and the only female president since has been Ruth Waters. The organisation BAAPS was formed in 1979; it currently has its second ever female president, Nora Nugent, the first being Mary O'Brien appointed in 2020.​
