Skip to content
Waterfront Hospital

Aesthetic Surgery in Edinburgh

The consultant you choose at Waterfront is the consultant who looks after you. Owned and run by its founding plastic surgeons, the practice covers the full range of face, breast and body procedures — all planned, performed and reviewed by the same consultant on the GMC Specialist Register, from your first appointment through your final review.

Treatments A–Z
Consultant listening to a patient during a consultation

Find your procedure

Face

Facial aesthetic surgery addresses structural and surface changes from the eyebrows to the neck. Your consultant will discuss which procedure — or combination — suits your face at consultation.

Consultant assessing a hooded upper eyelid

Breast

From augmentation to reduction, uplift and corrective work — the right approach is decided in consultation, including whether surgery is the best step at all.

Two smooth round breast implants of different sizes

Body

Body contouring addresses loose skin and excess fat after weight loss, pregnancy or ageing. The right operation depends on what is loose, what is fatty, and where.

A patient talking with her consultant in a Waterfront consulting room

Guide prices are from the lowest typical cost; your consultant gives you a written quotation after your consultation. All guide prices

The Waterfront AI consultation tool

The Waterfront AI consultation tool is a free educational resource for anyone researching aesthetic surgery — ask about procedures, recovery, risks and cost in plain language, with no personal details and no commitment.

Built by our consultants to reflect how they actually discuss procedures, it is no substitute for a consultation, but it helps you arrive at one better informed.

Learn about our Free AI Cosmetic Surgery Consultation
Reading the free AI consultation on a phone at home, before coming in

Frequently asked questions

Will the same surgeon plan, perform and review my surgery?
Yes. At Waterfront, the consultant who assesses you at your first appointment is the consultant who plans your operation, performs it, and follows you through every post-operative review. There is no handover between assessment and surgery, no patient coordinator, and no surgeon rotation. This applies across all of our aesthetic procedures — face, breast and body.
What is the difference between cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery and aesthetic surgery?
The terms overlap and are often used interchangeably. Plastic surgery is the formal medical specialty — surgeons trained in plastic surgery are on the GMC Specialist Register for plastic surgery and treat both reconstructive and aesthetic conditions. Aesthetic surgery describes procedures aimed at improving appearance, performed by plastic surgeons. Cosmetic surgery is the common patient-facing term for the same group of procedures. At Waterfront, all consulting surgeons performing aesthetic procedures are consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register. For broader patient information, see BAAPS and the Royal College of Surgeons.
How do I choose the right surgeon for aesthetic surgery in Scotland?
The most important step is checking that the surgeon is on the GMC Specialist Register for plastic surgery — not just on the GMC main register. Beyond that, look for membership of BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) or BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons); look at the surgeon’s own before-and-after photos in the procedure you are considering; and ask whether the consultant who assesses you will be the consultant who performs and reviews your surgery. Use the consultation to gauge whether the conversation feels honest, with no pressure to book on the day. Further patient guidance is available from BAAPS and the Royal College of Surgeons consultation guide.
What should I expect at a consultation at Waterfront?
Consultations are unhurried and take place with a consultant plastic surgeon — not a patient coordinator or a nurse. Your consultant will examine you, discuss what you want the surgery to address, explain the realistic options (including non-surgical alternatives where they exist), go through the relevant risks and recovery, and give you an honest view on whether surgery is the right step for you at all. A written summary of the consultation is sent to you a few days later, so you have the detail in writing as you think things through. For broader guidance on what to expect from a consultation generally, see the Royal College of Surgeons consultation guide.
What are the risks of having aesthetic surgery abroad?
BAAPS has consistently raised concerns about the risks of seeking aesthetic surgery abroad — including limited follow-up if complications occur, difficulty arranging appropriate aftercare in the UK, and variability in surgical standards. NHS surgical units increasingly report having to treat complications of overseas cosmetic surgery, often at the patient’s own cost. If you are considering surgery abroad, your UK GP or a UK plastic surgeon can help you weigh the trade-offs honestly. Further information from BAAPS on cosmetic tourism and the Royal College of Surgeons guide.
What happens if I have concerns after my surgery?
Your consultant remains personally involved through your recovery. If anything concerns you between scheduled appointments, your consultant will respond directly and arrange to see you as often as needed until things are settled. You are not handed off to a generic aftercare team.
How are aesthetic surgery results judged?
Most aesthetic surgery results take time to settle. Bruising and swelling typically settle within the first month, but the final result of facial and breast surgery is generally judged at around six months once the tissues have refined and scars have matured. Your consultant will discuss when to judge the result of your specific procedure at consultation.

Your journey with us

  1. Enquire

    Call, send a message, or try the free AI consultation. One of our team arranges a consultation date.

  2. Consultation

    30 to 60 minutes with the consultant who would operate, not a sales adviser. £200.

  3. Time to decide

    Your written summary and quotation follow by secure email. At least two weeks to consider; a second consultation is free.

  4. Treatment day

    Your own consultant carries out your treatment at our hospital. Waterfront is a day hospital, so you go home the same day.

  5. Aftercare

    A nurse reviews you in the first week, your consultant once the result has settled. Twelve months of aftercare are included.

What happens at each step
Reception at Waterfront Private Hospital

Fantastic results from a breast reduction and abdominoplasty, my life was miserable, I was unable to enjoy the quality of life I wanted.

It affected my confidence, my mental health and I wore shapeless dull clothes (mostly black) Awf and Omar Quaba changed all that last September, surgery went perfectly I recovered in hospital for 2 days getting up within couple hours of surgery, I was kept very comfortable and had no issues with healing. Within 6 weeks I was back to normal and able to rejoin the gym after 3 months. The difference in my life is outstanding, I am now more confident and love shopping for fitted clothes in all colours. I was a size 16/18 and now I’m size 12/14 something I never thought possible. My highlight was wearing a bikini on holiday for the first time aged 53.

Mrs M King
Nov 2023

Trustpilot
Waterfront Private Hospital Edinburgh

Get in touch

However you would like to get in touch — by phone, email, or our contact form — a member of our team will respond promptly. New patients can also book a consultation online.

ARRANGE A CONSULTATION BY PHONE

0131 376 3785

OPENING HOURS

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Contact Form