Welcome to the Plastic Aesthetic Regenerative Specialists University London
About
Welcome to the Plastic Aesthetic Regenerative Specialists Group. We are a leading group of plastic surgeons, dermatologists, aesthetic physicians, academics, and researchers – Our aim is to be a leading multidisciplinary team devoted to education and training in all aspects of aesthetic surgery, aesthetic medicine and regenerative medicine. The scope of our work entails establishing an evidence base for regeneration, replenishment and rejuvenation of tissues and vital structures, how we deliver it and the impact on patient safety. Our focus ranges from bench to bedside, multicentre clinical trials and larger scale projects on the public health impact on patients nationally and internationally.
Most cosmetic surgery injections in the UK and internationally are not administered by adequately trained doctors.
An analysis of the UK's cosmetic injectables industry by UCL researchers finds 68% of cosmetic practitioners who are administering injections such as Botox are even not medical doctors.
We aim to promote evidence-based work and research in aesthetic surgery, non-surgical aesthetics, and regenerative medicine. Our aims are:
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To advance critical understanding and evaluation of the clinical theory, practice, and associated research applied to the practice of Minimally Invasive Aesthetics, Aesthetic Surgery and Regenerative Medicine.
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To provide opportunities to apply the clinical theory, practice, and associated research in the provision of Minimally Invasive Aesthetics, Aesthetic Surgery and Regenerative Medicine.
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To provide opportunities to undertake independent research studies in Minimally Invasive Aesthetics, Aesthetic Surgery and Regenerative Medicine.
Our research covers many aspects of aesthetics and reconstructive surgery:
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Ageing concepts
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Public health
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Technology integration including the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
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Pharmacological aspects of the Botulinum toxin and soft tissue fillers including therapeutic efficacy and complication management
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Regenerative medicine and Epigenetics
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Cell Therapy and Tissueengineering
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Clinical trials in reconstructive surgery and microsurgery
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Developing novel surgical and educational technologies
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Clinical translation of image-guided technology for reconstructive surgery
Our work
Clinical trials
Exosomes and Extracellular Vesicles
Characterization, delineation of heterogenicity and potential for soft tissue regeneration
Investigators : Prof Ash Mosahebi and Prof Ali Pirayesh
Status : active
Funding : Industry
Extracellular vesicle signaling in neurodegenerative disorders
Investigators : Prof Ash Mosahebi and Prof Ali Pirayesh
Status active
Funding : Industry
WAFER Trial
A multicentre randomised controlled trial led by the team at the Royal Free Hospital and UCL evaluating surgical repair of flexor tendon injury under local anaesthesia without a tourniquet compared to general or regional anaesthesia with a tourniquet.
Status: Recruiting
Chief investigator: Prof. Ash Mosahebi
Co-investigator: Mr Dariush Nikkhah, Mr Muholan Kanapathy
Funding: NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Grant
More on the WAFER Trial
HIDRA Trial
A randomised controlled trial evaluating Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Instillation for Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Status: Recruiting
Chief Investigator: Prof. Ash Mosahebi
Co-investigator: Mr Muholan Kanapathy
Funding: Industry
More on the HIDRA Trial
EPIGRAAFT Trial
Status: Completed
Chief Investigator: Prof. Ash Mosahebi
Co-investigator: Mr Muholan Kanapathy
Funding: BAPRAS, UCL, Industry
More on the EPIGRAAFT Trial
Aesthetics
The public health impact of the UK aesthetic injectables market
Status: Active
Chief Investigator: Prof. Ash Mosahebi
Co-investigator: Mr David Zargaran
Funding: QUAD A
Supported by JCCP and CPSA
Education
MetaSurgical
A cohort study exploring the use of metaverse technologies in Plastic Surgery sustainability and education
Status: Recruiting soon
Chief Investigator: Prof. Ash Mosahebi
Co-investigator: Mr Alexander Zargaran, Mr David Zargaran
Funding: CofFEE Grant
AesthetiSim
A serious videogame leveraging cutting-edge technologies including VR, AR and Haptics in Aesthetic Education
Status: Prototype developed
AI in Facial Aesthetics
AgeGAN
A Generative Adversarial Network using predictive analytics to apply to ageing and reverse ageing to facial photographs
Status: Under development
UCL CORE Faculty
Plastic Surgery & Dermatology
Plastic Surgery, Dermatology, Aesthetic Medicine
International lecturers
Dr Anna Marie Olsen (UK)
Mr Colin Morrison (IE)
Mr Jonathan Britto (UK)
Mr Marc Pacifico (UK)
Mr Rajiv Grover (UK)
Mr Greg Williams (UK)
Dr Elias Tam (UK)
Dr Souphi Samizadeh (UK)
Dr Uliana Gout (UK)
Prof Berend van der Lei (NL)
Prof Andrzej Piatkowski (NL)
Prof Dario Bertossi (IT)
Prof Foad Nahai (US)
Prof Basel Sharaf (US)
Dr Todd Schlessinger (US)
Dr Brigitte Bollinger (CH)
Dr Izolda Heydenrich (SA)
Dr Ferial Fanian (FR)
Dr Xavier Beut (ES)
Dr Marc Nelissen (BE)
Dr Jo Vanoorbeek (BE)
Dr Koen De Boulle (BE)
Dr Francisco Llano (ME)
Academic Surgical Trainees Fellows
Mr Muholan Kanapathy (UK)
Mr David Zargaran (UK)
Eva Velders - HR
Richard Sirju - Aesthetic Fitness
Ageing, Lifestyle & Economics
Health
Industry partners
TSK
Adoderm
Fillmed
Juvaplus
BENEV
British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (BAAPS)
Aesthetic Surgery Journal of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS)
Aesthetic MultiSpecialty Society (AMS)
We work closely with the following institutes & organisations
Funding & Partnerships
Courses
Develop the necessary surgical aesthetics skills to ensure patient safety by joining our mixed-mode MS Aesthetic Surgery which is designed to suit the lifestyle of busy professionals. You will learn from world leaders in aesthetic surgery and minimally invasive aesthetics and join the community of professionals driving innovation in the field.
Program Lead - Zahra Mohri
Develop the necessary minimally invasive aesthetics skills to ensure patient safety by joining our mixed-mode MS Aesthetics (Minimally Invasive Aesthetics) designed to suit the lifestyle of busy professionals. You will learn from world leaders in minimally invasive aesthetics and join the community of professionals driving innovation in the field.
Gain core knowledge and understanding of the latest plastic and reconstructive surgical techniques on this highly innovative MSc, the only programme in burns, plastic, and reconstructive surgery currently available. Work with the latest technologies, learn from world-leading experts, and emerge with the sought-after skills and translations knowledge to carry out your own clinically applied research.
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
UCL
British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS)
Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP)
Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority (CPSA)
UCL Global Business School for Health
UCL Department of Computer Sciences
Research funding
Ali Pirayesh, Dario Bertossi, Izolda Heydenrich & The Aesthetic Facial Anatomy Consensus Group (2020) Aesthetic Facial Anatomy Essentials for Injections
Morkuzu S, Kanapathy M, Mosahebi A, et al. (2023) Use of Activated Platelet Rich Plasma (A-PRP) on Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses
Zargaran D, Zargaran A, Mosahebi A, et al. (2022) Complications of Cosmetic Botulinum Toxin A Injections to the Upper Face: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Zargaran D, Zargaran A, Weyrich T. & Mosahebi, A. (2022). Are NFTs the Answer to Cowboy Cosmetics?
Birkett L, Dhar S, Singh P & Mosahebi, A. (2022). Botulinum Toxin A in the Management of Acne Vulgaris: Evidence and Recommendations
Singh P, Pirayesh A, Mosahebi A. (2020) Aesthetic Surgery During COVID-19.
Samizadeh S, Pirayesh A, Bertossi D. (2018) Anatomical Variations in the Course of Labial Arteries: A Literature Review.
Bertossi D, Botti G, Gualdi A, Fundarò P, Nocini R, Pirayesh A, van der Lei B. (2018) Effectiveness, Longevity, and Complications of Facelift by Barbed Suture Insertion.
Nocini R, Chirumbolo S, Pirayesh A, Rahman E, Kapoor KM, Caliskan G, Bertossi D.Ann, et al (2022) A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Rhinoplasty Using the Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation Scale
Novikov LN, Novikova LN, Mosahebi A, Wiberg M, Terenghi G, Kellerth JO. (2002) A novel biodegradable implant for neuronal rescue and regeneration after spinal cord injury.
Sedaghati T, Yang SY, Mosahebi A, Alavijeh MS, Seifalian AM. (2011) Nerve regeneration with aid of nanotechnology and cellular engineering.
Zargaran D, Zargaran A, Mosahebi A, et al. (2023) O161 Profiling UK injectable aesthetic practitioners: a national cohort analysis
Zargaran D, Zargaran A, Mosahebi A, et al. (2022) 927 An Analysis of the United Kingdom Education Courses for Aesthetic PracticeKanapathy M, Faderani R, Bray J, Dehbi HM, Panca M, Vindrola-Padros C, Prasad A, Burr N, Williams NR, Al-Ajam Y, Bhat W, Wong J, Mosahebi A, Nikkhah D. (2023) WAFER trial: a study protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial comparing wide-awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) to general and regional anaesthesia with tourniquet for flexor tendon repair.
Heyneman A, Hoeksema H, Vandekerckhove D, Pirayesh A, Monstrey S. (2016) The role of silver sulphadiazine in the conservative treatment of partial thickness burn wounds: A systematic review.
Verbelen J, Hoeksema H, Pirayesh A, Van Landuyt K, Monstrey S. (2016) Exposed tibial bone after burns: Flap reconstruction versus dermal substitute.
Pirayesh A, Hoeksema H, Richters C, Verbelen J, Monstrey S. (2015) Glyaderm(®) dermal substitute: clinical application and long-term results in 55 patients.
Verbelen J, Hoeksema H, Heyneman A, Pirayesh A, Monstrey S. (2014) Aquacel(®) Ag dressing versus Acticoat™ dressing in partial thickness burns: a prospective, randomized, controlled study in 100 patients. Part 1: burn wound healing.
Hoeksema H, De Vos M, Verbelen J, Pirayesh A, Monstrey S. (2013) Scar management by means of occlusion and hydration: a comparative study of silicones versus a hydrating gel-cream.
Ignace De Decker, Henk Hoeksema, Jozef Verbelen, Petra De Coninck, Marijn Speeckaert, Sofie De Schepper, Phillip Blondeel, Ali Pirayesh, Stan Monstrey, Karel E Y Claes (2023) A single-stage bilayered skin reconstruction using Glyaderm® as an acellular dermal regeneration template results in improved scar quality: an intra-individual randomized controlled trial
Goldie K, Cumming D, Voropai D, Mosahebi A, et al. (2021). Aesthetic Delusions: An Investigation into the Role of Rapid Visual Adaptation in Aesthetic Practice
Bertossi D, Giampaoli G, Verner I, Pirayesh A, Nocini R, Nocini P (2019) Complications and management after a nonsurgical rhinoplasty: A literature review.
Bertossi D, Giampaoli G, Dell'Acqua I, Verner I, Pirayesh A, Nocini R, Nocini PF.Dermatol (2019) Nonsurgical genioplasty
Bertossi D, Giampaoli G, Verner I, Pirayesh A, Nocini R, Nocini P (2019) Complications and management after a nonsurgical rhinoplasty: A literature review.
Mosahebi A, Fuller P, Wiberg M, Terenghi G. (2002) Effect of allogeneic Schwann cell transplantation on peripheral nerve regeneration.
Magistretti P, Bertossi D, Pirayesh A, Magistretti A, Chirumbolo S. (2022) Exokine and the Youth-Boosting Treatment Based on One's Own Serum: Wheat and Chaff.
Mosahebi A, Woodward B, Wiberg M, Martin R, Terenghi G. (2001) Retroviral labeling of Schwann cells: in vitro characterization and in vivo transplantation to improve peripheral nerve regeneration.
McCaughran PW, Zargaran D, Southall C, Mosahebi A, et al. (2022). WALANT: Perceptions, approaches, and contraindications in a tertiary hand surgery unit
Mosahebi A, Woodward B, Green C, Martin R, Terenghi G. (2000) Long-term effect of vital labelling on mixed Schwann cell cultures.
Zargaran D, Zargaran A, Mosahebi A, et al. (2022) Facial skin ageing: Key concepts and overview of processes
Coward K, Mosahebi A, Plumpton C, Facer P, Birch R, Tate S, Bountra C, Terenghi G, Anand P. (2001) Immunolocalisation of sodium channel NaG in the intact and injured human peripheral nervous system.
Novikova LN, Mosahebi A, Wiberg M, Terenghi G, Kellerth JO, Novikov LN. (2006) Alginate hydrogel and matrigel as potential cell carriers for neurotransplantation.
Zargaran D, Zargaran A, Sousi S, Mosahebi A, et al. (2023) Cosmetic business mechanics in London: A cross-sectional analysis and audit of ASA compliance
Bertossi D, Mohsahebi A, Philipp-Dormston WG, Heidenrich I, Pirayesh A, D'Souza A, Saleh H, Yavuzer R, Fakih N, Vent J, Rahman E, Kapoor KM. (2020) Safety guidelines for nonsurgical facial procedures during COVID-19 outbreak.
Dancey A, Kanapathy M, Mosahebi A, et al. (2023) Summary document on safety and recommendations on liposuction for lipoedema: Joint British Association of aesthetic plastic surgeons (BAAPS)/British Association of plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgeons (BAPRAS) expert liposuction group
Pirayesh A, De Decker I, Richters CD, Paauw NJ, Hoeksema H, Hoekstra MJ, Claes KEY, Van Der Lei B, Monstrey S, at al. (2022) Comparison of Glyaderm with different dermal substitute matrices in a porcine wound model
Kanapathy M, Nikkhah D, Singh P, Mosahebi A, et al. (2022) A neuro-plastics approach for extracranial-to-intracranial bypass: Video and technical considerations
Sadideen H, Akhavani MA, Mosahebi A & Harris PA. (2020). Current perceptions of 'Brazilian butt lift' (BBL) surgery in the UK: A BAAPS-led survey of BAAPS members
Georgiou AK, Singh P, Hever P, Arize C & Mosahebi A. (2020). The use of indocyanine green in plastic surgery
Kanapathy M, Burentuvshin O, Varghese J, Mosahebi A., et al. (2022). Priority setting in breast reconstructive surgery: A DELPHI consensus
Ramaut L, Hoeksema H, Pirayesh A, Stillaert F, Monstrey S. (2018) Microneedling: Where do we stand now? A systematic review of the literature.
Pabari A, Yang SY, Seifalian AM, Mosahebi A. (2010) Modern surgical management of peripheral nerve gap.
Ruppert PMM, Michielsen CCJR, Hazebroek EJ, Pirayesh A, Olivecrona G, Afman LA, Kersten S. (2020) Fasting induces ANGPTL4 and reduces LPL activity in human adipose tissue.
Dario Bertossi, Riccardo Nocini, Ali Pirayesh (2023) Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty
Rahman E, Banerjee PS, Asghar A, Gupta NK & Mosahebi A. (2022). Botulinum Toxin Type A Immunogenicity across Multiple Indications: An Overview Systematic Review
Bertossi D, Nocini R, van der Lei B, Magistretti P, Gualdi A, Pirayesh A, Marchetti (2021). Lip Reshaping with LOVE Approach: A Prospective Analysis Based on Two Hyaluronic Acid Fillers.
Gülbitti HA, Pirayesh A, Bertossi D, van der Lei B. (2020). Polydioxanone Threads for Facial Rejuvenation: Analysis of Quality Variation in the Market.
Gülbitti HA, Colebunders B, Pirayesh A, Bertossi D, van der Lei B. (2018) Thread-Lift Sutures: Still in the Lift? A Systematic Review of the Literature.
Pabari A, Lloyd-Hughes H, Seifalian AM, Mosahebi A. (2014) Nerve conduits for peripheral nerve surgery.
Oostendorp C, Uijtdewilligen PJ, Versteeg EM, Hafmans TG, van den Bogaard EH, de Jonge PK, Pirayesh A, Von den Hoff JW, Reichmann E, Daamen WF, van Kuppevelt TH. (2016) Visualisation of newly synthesised collagen in vitro and in vivo.
Pabari A, Yang SY, Mosahebi A, Seifalian AM. (2011) Recent advances in artificial nerve conduit design: strategies for the delivery of luminal fillers.
Prof. Ali Pirayesh, MD, PhD. 2023. 20 year evolution of Glyaderm® dermal regeneration matrix. The first non-commercial dermal regeneration matrix.
Selim OA, Lakhani S, Midha S, Mosahebi A, Kalaskar DM. (2022) Three-Dimensional Engineered Peripheral Nerve: Toward a New Era of Patient-Specific Nerve Repair Solutions
Mosahebi A, Wiberg M, Terenghi G. (2003) Addition of fibronectin to alginate matrix improves peripheral nerve regeneration in tissue-engineered conduits.
Mosahebi A, Simon M, Wiberg M, Terenghi G. (2001) A novel use of alginate hydrogel as Schwann cell matrix.
Select publications
Recent events
Last Event: November 2022 | PLASTA x Royal Free Hackathon
Next Event: 09-10 September 2023 | ASiT x PLASTA x Royal Free Hackathon
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Promoting sustainable surgery, the future of plastic surgery and implementation of machine learning: an evaluation of a plastic surgery hackathon. BAPRAS 2023., Amsterdam.
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WAFER Trial, BSSH Spring Scientific Meeting, Wales, April 2023.
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Conversational Artificial Intelligence in Plastic Surgery: A systematic review. ICOPLAST 2023, Dubai.
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Profiling UK injectable aesthetic practitioners: a national cohort analysis. ICOPLAST 2023, Dubai.
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Cosmetic Business Mechanics in London: A Cross-Sectional Analysis and Audit of ASA Compliance. ICOPLAST 2023, Dubai.
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A Systematic Review of the Impact of TikTok on Plastic Surgery. ICOPLAST 2023, Dubai.
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UK Aesthetics Associations: A Robust Safety Net or Credibility Accessories? ICOPLAST 2023, Dubai.
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A systematic review of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) in Plastic Surgery. Podium Presentation, ICOPLAST 2023, Dubai.
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Complications of facial cosmetic Botulinum Toxin A injections: a systematic review and meta-analysis. ISAPS (2022). Istanbul.
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A NeuroPlastic Approach for Microsurgical Extracranial-to-Intracranial Brain Bypass. 11th Congress of World Society foe Reconstructive Microsurgery 2022, Mexico.