A COSMETIC surgery clinic has been criticised by doctors for offering “lunchtime” breast enlargements. Women can have the hour-long procedure while under local anaesthetic and walk out within four hours of arrival.

A student who was told by a surgeon at the clinic that she looked as though she had breast-fed two children was one of the first patients to undergo the quick-fix operation. It was bought as a 21st- birthday present by her mother, who said that her daughter had saggy breasts.

Breast enlargement surgery normally entails a stay of at least one night in hospital, in case of complications.

The president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons said that breast surgery was being marketed by some clinics as like buying an iPod.

Adam Searle, a consultant at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London, added: “Any attempt to represent this as the sort of procedure that should be banged out over a lunch break should be discouraged in the strongest terms.”

The £4,500 operation is being performed at the Medispa Clinic in Adlington, Cheshire. Its managers claim that they are merely responding to a huge demand for quick cosmetic surgery.

Carl Lewis, the owner, said: “This has totally revolutionised breast-enlargement surgery. The recovery time is amazing.

“Professional women haven’t got time to spend lying in hospital and are turning away from general anaesthetic. In years to come the lunchtime boob job will be happening across the industry.

“The total amount of time spent at our clinic from walking in to walking out is under four hours.”

Victoria Clark, the operations director, said. “We have seen a huge leap in the demand for this kind of same-day surgery as there is no general anaesthetic, the recovery time is shorter and there is less bruising and bleeding.”

Jessica Kirkham’s mother paid for her to undergo the operation. Miss Kirkham, a student, was in and out of the clinic on the same day and went shopping two days later.

She said: “You have to spend two weeks recovering from the traditional general anaesthetic operation and I couldn’t afford time off, so I decided on this.

“I had a local anaesthetic to numb the whole breast area — I couldn’t feel anything, it was a bit like being drunk, I had no concept of time. Then you come round and sit up. I put my clothes on and went home, although it did start to hurt when the anaesthetic wore off.”

Miss Kirkham wanted larger breasts because she hopes to become a television presenter. She added: “We live in a visual culture and my confidence was really affected. My mum said they were saggy and I could have the operation for my birthday. The surgeon told me it looked as though I had breast-fed two children.”

Mr Searle, the president of BAAPS, said: “Breast enlargement is a significant surgical procedure which should be exacted to the highest safety standards and followed up with a careful programme of post- operative recovery.

“There is a risk of complications surrounding any surgery. There is no doubt whatsover that at some point a patient will be readmitted with post-operative bleeding. I am deeply concerned to hear of any approach which serves to trivialise major surgical techniques.”

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