The service
Founded by a Consultant Psychiatrist with specialist expertise in body dysmorphic disorder, OCD, and the psychology of appearance — and a deep understanding of the clinical world of cosmetic surgery.
Our story
Cosmetic Surgery Psychiatry was born from a straightforward clinical observation: cosmetic surgeons were frequently encountering patients with significant psychiatric complexity — patients with BDD, active depression, personality disorders, eating disorders — and had no fast, reliable pathway to get the specialist opinion they needed before a procedure went ahead.
Standard psychiatric services are not designed for the cosmetic surgery context. Wait times are long, letters are written for a psychiatric rather than surgical audience, and the specific questions a surgeon needs answered — does this patient have BDD? Is surgery indicated? Do they have capacity? — are rarely addressed directly.
Cosmetic Surgery Psychiatry was designed to fill that gap. We combine the clinical rigour of consultant-level psychiatric assessment with a deep understanding of the cosmetic surgery world: your medico-legal context, your need for speed, and your need for a recommendation you can actually act on.
“The goal of cosmetic surgery is not simply to alter appearance, but to improve psychological wellbeing. When the psychological substrate is disordered, surgery cannot achieve this.”
Based on Sarwer & Crerand (2008) — Body image and cosmetic medical treatments
Lead Clinician
MRCPsych • GMC Registered • Harley Street Mental Health
Our lead clinician completed higher specialist training in general adult and liaison psychiatry before developing a specialist interest in body dysmorphic disorder and the intersection between mental health and aesthetic medicine.
Alongside clinical practice, they have delivered CPD training for cosmetic surgery societies, contributed to professional guidelines on psychological assessment in aesthetic practice, and provided expert opinion in medico-legal proceedings involving cosmetic surgery outcomes.
Specialist expertise
Extensive experience in BDD assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Familiar with all validated instruments including BDDQ, Y-BOCS-BDD, and the SCID-BDD module. Understanding of the literature on surgical outcomes in BDD.
Higher training in liaison psychiatry — the specialty that sits at the interface between psychiatric and medical/surgical practice. Experienced in working with surgical teams, writing for non-psychiatric clinical audiences, and navigating medico-legal documentation requirements.
Skilled in the assessment of personality disorder presentations — including NPD and EUPD — which are over-represented in cosmetic surgery populations and associated with elevated complaint and litigation risk.
Experienced in formal MCA 2005 capacity assessment for medical and surgical decisions, including complex cases involving delusional beliefs, cognitive impairment, and fluctuating capacity.
Our values
Every assessment applies DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, validated instruments, and full psychiatric methodology. We never cut corners on clinical quality to meet a deadline.
Patients referred for psychiatric assessment are often anxious and sometimes offended. We approach every consultation with care, explain the purpose clearly, and never make patients feel they are being obstructed.
Our reports are written for surgeons, not psychiatrists. We avoid jargon, give direct recommendations, and ensure every report can stand up in a medico-legal review.
We designed Cosmetic Surgery Psychiatry around the realities of surgical practice — fast acknowledgement, clear timelines, no unnecessary administration, and reports you receive when we say you will.
Our recommendations are made on clinical grounds alone. We are not influenced by what any party wants to hear. If a patient should not have surgery, our report will say so — clearly, and with full clinical reasoning.
All clinical decisions are grounded in peer-reviewed evidence. We follow NICE CG31, DSM-5, and the published literature on BDD and surgical outcomes — and we keep our own practice up to date with the latest research.
Where to find us
Cosmetic Surgery Psychiatry operates from the Harley Street Mental Health practice in central London — one of the UK’s foremost private psychiatry groups. Video consultations are available for patients across the UK who are unable to attend in person.
10 Harley Street
London W1G 9PF
2 min walk from Regent’s Park and Great Portland Street tube stations. Paid parking nearby.
Secure video consultations available for patients anywhere in the UK. Details provided on booking. All video sessions meet NHS and ICO data security standards.
Part of HSMH
Cosmetic Surgery Psychiatry is a specialist service within the Harley Street Mental Health group — a multidisciplinary private psychiatry practice offering a full range of psychiatric services including psychotherapy, neuropsychology, and specialist assessments.
Get started today
We respond within one working day. No GP referral required — just a brief description of your clinical concern and the procedure planned.