Miss Susan Hignett

I have been an Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon working in the NHS for five years and in the private sector for four years. I graduated from The University of Birmingham Medical School in 2002 with honours. I become a Member of the RCS – England in 2005 and was awarded Fellowship to the Royal College in 2013. I was successful in obtaining a National Training Interface Group (TIG) Oncoplastic Breast Fellowship in West Yorkshire, performing both cosmetic and oncoplastic breast techniques. I also spent time training in Brussels with Professor Hamdi (Plastics Consultant) and have attended meetings in both Brussels and Paris. I am recognised by the GMC having declared my interest in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery.

I specialise in oncoplastic breast surgery which includes procedures for cancer and non cancer breast surgery including cosmetic and reconstruction. Oncoplastic Type 1 Procedures including Simple WLE & breast remodelling and Oncoplastic Type 2 Procedures including Therapeutic Mammoplasty, Breast Reconstruction, Prosthesis: Expander–Implant, Implant, ADM: Sub pec, Pre pec, Pedicled Flap – LD (Latissimus Dorsi with / without implant), Axillary surgery, SLNB (Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy), Axillary Node Clearance, Breast – Lipomodelling, Breast Reduction, Breast Augmentation, Breast up lift, Mastopexy (Breast uplift alone), Mastopexy augmentation (Breast uplift with implant), Gynaecomastia – male breast surgery, Nipple Inversion correction and Revision Breast Surgery.

Since my Consultant appointment I have performed 785 procedures within both the NHS and private sector. This is not inclusive of all the procedures performed during my training.

I have performed 168 mastectomies (simple, skin sparing, wise pattern), 506 Axillary procedures (ANC, SLNB, EX bx, Sampling), 58 Breast reconstructions (1 stage, 2 stage, expander, implant, dermal sling, sub pec, pre pec, LD), 193 localised wide local excisions (magseed, wire, USS, skin mark), 126 Palpable WLE/Therapeutic mammoplasty/round block, 56 excision biopsies, 46 lipomodelling procedures (single procedure / combined), 54 Nipple procedures (recon, Hadfields, fistula excision), 16 explantation of implants +/- capsulectomies and other procedures including - Breast Reduction, Augmentation +/- Mastopexy, Gynaecomastia - Mastectomy.

Improving the quality of care and patient experience for patients is at the top of my agenda and ensuring we remain updated and use safe evidence based techniques for the benefit of patients. With this I have introduced ADM, lipomodelling, magseed and magtrace into my NHS Trust and intend to introduce these services to Spire Regency Hospital. This will enable our private patients access to these techniques, which offer many advantages improving the high quality of care we strive to achieve at Spire. My involvement in National Audit and the iBRANet will allow new devices and procedures to be safely implemented into patient care keeping up to date with new and upcoming techniques/devices being introduced.

I am the Foundation Programme Director at the Mid Cheshire NHS Hospitals Trust. Alongside my oncoplastic breast work, I am actively involved in training. I am also a recognised Educational Supervisor for Breast Trainees and a Clinical Supervisor for GP trainees, Physician’s Assistants and Medical Students. I am an online tutor for the MS-Breast run through the University of East Anglia. Having now joined Spire Regency Hospital I will continue to develop my managerial skills.

In my NHS Trust I hold the following Leadership Roles; Breast Lead, in which I manage new patient referrals, ensure adequate rota/staffing, organise monthly team meetings, update the departmental guidelines, Oversee QIP/departmental audits, ensure compliance with NICE/ABS guidelines. I am also Smoking Cessation Lead, involved in the successful CURE application for the Trust to support and treat tobacco addiction within the Trust. Having now joined Spire Regency Hospital I will continue to develop my Leadership skills.