Mr Richard Karoo
Consultant Plastic Surgeon
MBChB, MRCS (Eng), MPhil, FRCS (Plast)
I work as a consultant plastic surgeon who consults in cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. I’ve been fortunate enough to gain extensive cosmetic surgery experience both in the UK and abroad.
Having trained extensively in the United Kingdom and Australia, my core specialist registrar training was based in Leeds. I then became the international senior microsurgical fellow at The Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia, then undertook a reconstructive breast surgery fellowship at St Andrew’s Centre for Plastic Surgery in Chelmsford. To complement my experience, I completed my cosmetic surgery and aesthetic fellowship at the world renowned London Clinic, Harley Street, London. This helped to equip me with the surgical skills and know how to confidently deal with those patients seeking the highest quality of care.
In my NHS practice I am the clinical lead for plastic reconstructive head and neck surgery at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery. In addition to my aesthetic practice, I perform a wide range of reconstructive microsurgical plastic surgery operations, also being involved with the Cardiff skin cancer multidisciplinary treatment team.
I've had extensive media coverage including a BBC Radio 2 live interview on cosmetic rhinoplasty with Jason Mohammed. As well as featuring in a BBC X-ray documentary on the use of non-surgical cosmetic treatments. I also made an appearance on Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies, speaking and demonstrating the medicinal use of leech therapy in modern day plastic surgery trauma surgery.
During the years I've tried to contribute to teaching and education for both patients and surgeons. Having produced information for those patients considering cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery, with over 14,000 produced via commercial sponsorship and made freely available to patients. I've also been awarded the John Barron Prize by the British Association of Plastic Surgeons twice - the only surgeon to ever have this happen in the history of the association. Firstly for work involving new breast reconstruction techniques brought over from Europe, and secondly for the use of electro chemo therapy for those with cutaneous malignancies.
Treatment information
Some of the principal treatments carried out by Mr Richard Karoo at Spire include:
Cosmetic surgery
- Breast reconstruction following mastectomy
- Breast reduction
- Breast implant removal
- Eyelid surgery or eyebag removal (blepharoplasty)
- Face and skin treatments for men
- Inverted nipple surgery
- Male breast reduction surgery (gynaecomastia)
- Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty)
- Scar revision
Get in touch
Important information about COVID-19 tests
COVID-19 testing or antibody tests are not available as a standalone service at Spire Cardiff Hospital.
Additional information
Clinical interests
Non-surgical procedures
Body
Breast
Ears
Eyes
Face
Nose
Aesthetic dermatology
Skin cancer
Plastic surgery
Reconstructive surgery
Special clinical interests: Cosmetic facial rejuvenation (facelift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, ear correction) and non-surgical facial procedures, breast enlargement (breast uplifting, breast reduction), body contouring procedures of liposuction, vaser liposuction and abdominoplasty.
Qualification and professional memberships
MBChB / University of Leicester / 1997
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
MRCS (Eng) / Royal College of Surgeons of England / 2001
Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
MPhil / Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit, University of Bradford / 2004
Masters in Philosophy
FRCS (Plast) / Royal College of Surgeons of England / 2010
Joint intercollegiate award of Fellowship to the Royal College of Surgeons as a Specialist in Plastic Surgery
Professional memberships
British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists
Professional leadership
Clinical Lead for Reconstructive Head and Neck Plastic Surgery of the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery
Research and publications
I am published and co-authored in over 50 articles for journals including:
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- British Journal of Surgery
- Journal of Investigative Dermatology
- European Journal of Plastic Surgery Burns
- International Journal of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
I undertook my scientific research in The Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit in Bradford, investigating wound healing models for the production of biological Skin Substitutes. I recently acted as a peer reviewer for the International Journal of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.
Current NHS posts
Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea.
Personal profile
I enjoy spending my spare time with my wife and children, eating out and watching films at the cinema.
Contact information
| Telephone | 0292 073 6011 |
| Private secretary | Zoey Riella |
| Private secretary email | plasticsurgerycardiff@gmail.com |