Faces of the First World War

This weekend, people up and down the country will be marking Remembrance Sunday and remembering the hundreds of thousands of people who died in conflict. For me, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the enormous advances in plastic and reconstructive surgery that resulted from the work of pioneering surgeons a hundred years ago –

Three role models of how to live a full life with facial burns

Role models are inspirational and we need more of them, people who have been through some trauma or major life event, and come out not just surviving but in some way uplifted by the experience. In the last week or two, as a man with facial burns, I have been inspired by three men who

Why face transplant research is important – and, more power to Oscar!

The Times carried a moving interview yesterday with the surgeon, Dr Joan Pere Barret, who carried out the world’s first full face transplant a year ago on ‘Oscar’. Some might say it was a pity it was not with Oscar himself but I fully respect his desire for privacy as he comes to terms with

A time to remember

We went to a superb performance of John Rutter’s Requiem this morning, to mark Remembrance Day – full of pain, depth and the power of love. The Two Minutes’ Silence was very poignant honouring the courage and service of the Armed Forces and the resoluteness of families bereaved or shaken by devastating casualty. I couldn’t