Background
Mr Hamilton qualified from the University of Glasgow Medical School in 1991. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow and of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and trained extensively in plastic surgery in Glasgow, London and Paris.
In 1995 Mr Hamilton passed the surgical examinations which allowed him to become a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and later the same year he similarly became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
He obtained an MD degree (Doctorate in Medicine) from the University of London in 2002 for research into new methods of diagnosing and treating the skin cancer melanoma at the RAFT Institute of Plastic Surgery where he held the position of research fellow.
Towards the end of his training, he was able to win the prestigious Inamed Fellowship of Aesthetic Surgery, which he undertook with Mr Barry Jones in London.
In addition, he undertook specialist fellowships at the famous Institut Curie, Paris, specialising in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery of the breast and at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, specialising in cancer reconstruction.
In the final FRCS(Plast) plastic surgical examination, for surgeons qualifying in Plastic Surgery, Mr Hamilton was awarded the McGregor Medal for an outstanding performance and achieved the best results of any candidate.
His research has led to numerous national and international presentations at conferences and publications in the UK and international plastic surgical literature.
With his extensive training and experience in both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, Mr Hamilton is able to offer advice and treatment on all aspects of cosmetic surgery of the face, nose, breasts and abdomen. At consultation, he will aim to give an honest, friendly opinion on the individual patient’s suitability for surgical or non-surgical treatment.
NHS Post:
Mr Hamilton holds the post of Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead and the Whittington Hospital in North London where he has special interests in skin cancer management including facial reconstruction, cancer reconstruction, including breast reconstruction, and correction of breast deformity. He also offers a breast reconstruction service to patients from Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals where he holds an honorary consultant position and a reconstructive service to University College Hospital where he similarly holds an Honorary Consultant Position.
He is Lead Surgeon for skin cancer treatment in the London Cancer Network and works closely with colleagues in dermatology, oncology, radiology and nuclear physics. He is, therefore, able to offer an integrated approach to the management of skin cancers.
Academic Post
Mr Hamilton holds the post of Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Unviersity College Hospital Medical School, part of the University of London, where he has regular teaching and research commitments.
In addition, he is a former member of the Medical Research Committee of the Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust (RAFT) (www.raft.ac.uk), an internationally renowned research institute based at Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, which carries out research into numerous areas of plastic surgery, including skin cancer, burns, wound healing, scarring, facial paralysis and hand surgery.
UK Professional Body Memberships:
General Medical Council (GMC) registration: 3476749 (Plastic Surgery Specialist Register)
British Medical Association
Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Full Member of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS)
Full Member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)
Qualifications
Stephen Hamilton MB ChB MD FRCS(Glas) FRCS(Edin) FRCS(Plast)
What do all those letters mean?
M.B. Ch.B. – from the Latin meaning “Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery”, this is the qualifications doctors in the UK receive when graduating form medical school.
M.D. – from the Latin meaning “Doctor of Medicine”, in the UK this is a higher degree awarded by a university to a qualified doctor after at least two years of full-time research leading to the submission of a thesis and passing an in depth oral examination. (In the US and many other countries, the letters are applied to any doctor and do not necessarily mean the doctor has a higher degree.)
FRCS(Glas) – Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow. This is a surgical qualification obtained after two sets of examinations relating to basic sciences, anatomy and surgery in general.
FRCS(Edin) - Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Similarly, a surgical qualification obtained after two sets of exams, this time set by the oldest Surgical College, the College of Surgeons in Edinburgh.
FRCS(Plast) – Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (Plastic Surgery). At the end of their training, UK plastic surgeons are required to sit a very detailed written, oral and clinical examination in all aspects of plastic surgery. Passing the exam is usually a requirement for being placed on the specialist register in plastic surgery of the General Medical Council. After succeeding in the exam, a plastic surgeon is entitled to place FRCS(Plast) after his or her name.