Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Psychology Service

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About us

Our service offers specialist psychological support to patients under the active care of a Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, and their families.

Who do we see?

Our service offers specialist psychological assessment, interventions, and signposting to adults (and their families) who are under the active care of a Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. The impact of plastic and reconstructive surgery varies from person to person. Some people may feel okay and some have concerns about appearance, adjustment, or surgical treatment. Our psychology service is available to help you understand and manage your reactions. 

We offer support at all stages of a patient’s plastic surgery journey, which means we may see you before your surgery, and on the ward.  After discharge some patients might struggle with low mood, anxiety, or post-surgery adjustments. We can also offer outpatient support after discharge which is provided at Pinderfields Hospital or Dewsbury and District Hospital. We also offer appointments online via video consultation.

Who can be referred?

The service is available to:

  • Those who are under the active care of a Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
  • Patients over the age of 18 and their families
  • Those who provide their consent to the referral.

We will consider those aged 16 and 17 years on a case-by-case basis and will liaise with our paediatric psychology colleagues.

Referral limitations

Occasionally other services may be more appropriate to meet the needs of patients and relatives.

  • Where the patient is under the age of 18
  • Where psychological problems are unrelated to your Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • If problems relate primarily to longstanding mental health or relationship difficulties and predate your Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • In the presence of severe mental health problems and risk concerns (e.g., active self-harming)
  • If the primary problem is current alcohol or drug misuse
  • Where severe antisocial/violent/criminal behaviour is an issue
  • Where support/counselling is being provided by another service
  • Where the primary needs are urgent mental health crisis support

Please note, this is not a crisis service for urgent mental health needs.

If you are feeling at risk to yourself, you are advised to contact your local community mental health crisis team, your GP or local Emergency Department. 

Meet the team

  • Dr David Aaron, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Service Lead
  • Dr Nate Shearman, Senior Clinical Psychologist
  • Dr Chloe Miller, Senior Clinical Psychologist - Away on secondment until August 2026
  • Dr Tyler Hughes, Clinical Psychologist
  • Chrissie Lane, Pre-Registered Clinical Psychologist
  • Akesa Uluiviti, Medical Secretary

What is an appointment with a psychologist like?

Your appointment may be on the ward if you are an inpatient or in clinic or online if you are an outpatient. This could be a short chat or a longer appointment (usually no longer than an hour). We will work together to understand your plastic and reconstructive surgery experience and difficulties and think through what input you would like from the psychologist.  You are welcome to have someone there with you for your first appointment. To best meet your needs, we may also direct you to a specialist, community, or charity service if we think they could be of better help. Appointments may be one-off or part of a longer number of sessions. We will agree the number of sessions in your first appointment.

We work closely with the rest of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery team (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists). It can be helpful for us to keep them updated with how you are using the psychology service, but we will only share this information if you are okay with it. We may also need to share information about you to other services to support your safety and wellbeing but will always seek to discuss this with you first.

 

Useful links and crisis support

Crisis support

NHS 111 and select the mental health option

West Yorkshire Suicide Prevention

The Hub of Hope enter your postcode and region to search by location

Samaritans or call 116 123 for free

Shout offers confidential 24/7 crisis text support: text ‘SHOUT’ to 85248

Mind Infoline: where to get help near you: 0300 123 3393

If you are in crisis and cannot keep yourself safe, ring 999 or go to your nearest A&E.

Breast Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery:
  • Macmillan Cancer Support / Breast reconstruction support (UK)  Provides helplines, specialist nurse support, online communities and printed decision resources for patients and families facing mastectomy and reconstruction. Very helpful for family decision-making and practical rehabilitation questions. 
  • Breast Cancer Now (UK) Information and support for anyone affected by breast cancer, including breast reconstructive psychoeducation, online forum and an information line. 
  • Flat Friends (UK)   dedicated to supporting women who have had mastectomy surgery without breast reconstruction, including those who may face such decisions now or in the future. 
  • Keeping Abreast (UK) Provides information, support, practical help and advice for those considering breast reconstruction, including the opportunity to share the experiences of others. 

Burns Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery:

  • Changing Faces (UK)  Changing Faces provide mental health, wellbeing, and skin camouflage services for people with a visible difference. They work to transform understanding and acceptance of visible difference, and campaign to reduce prejudice and discrimination. Provide confidential one-to-one counselling, support & information line, online community, skin-camouflage advice. Strong for everyday appearance concerns and family education. 
  • Adult Burn Support (UK ) offer assistance to adults with burn injuries. Their website offers information about how to get help. They also host a weekly online support group for people to learn, get guidance, and talk to others who have experienced a similar situation. 
  • Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors (US, international) moderated virtual peer support groups, family resources, extensive recovery guides, and education for professionals; runs virtual support groups specifically for survivors and family members. 
  • Face IT / FaceIT@home (UK)  Face IT provides support and advice for anyone who has worries or is unhappy because they have a different or unusual appearance (what we call a visible difference). 

Sex and Intimacy following burn injury:

Changing Faces:
o   Overcoming problems with physical intimacy and sex if you have a visible difference
o   Overcoming the challenges of dating and relationships with a visible difference
MSKTC:
o   Website with podcast episodes and videos
o   Sex and Intimacy - Factsheet

Skin Cancer Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery:

  • Macmillan Cancer Support (UK) offers helplines, specialist nurse support, online communities and printed decision resources for patients and families facing mastectomy and reconstruction. Very helpful for family decision-making and practical rehabilitation questions. 
  • Changing Faces (UK) provides confidential one-to-one counselling, support & information line, online community, skin-camouflage advice. Strong for everyday appearance concerns and family education.

Hands Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (post-operative pain/sensations/appearance and hand surgery):

UK hand surgery specific charities

  • British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) ­ works to improve patient care through education and research in hand surgery and offers patient information on common hand conditions and maintains the UK Hand Registry 
  • Pulvertaft Hand Charity ­is based at Royal Derby Hospital, they support training and research into recovery from hand injury and disease 
  • British Dupuytren's Society  UK charity founded in 2011 as a patient centred organisation specifically for Dupuytren's disease  

Limb difference charities

  • Reach  is a leading charity supporting children and young people with upper limb difference, with 17 branches across the UK 
  • The Limbless Association is the largest civilian limb loss charity in the UK, established in 1983 they offer a volunteer visitor network, events, and resources 
  • Blesma (British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association) provides support for service personnel and veterans with limb loss 
  • Finding Your Feet provides support for lower limb amputees 
  • Douglas Bader Foundation provides support for people with limb loss

Plastic surgery and facial disfigurement charities 

  • British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) offers lots of useful information for any patient considering plastic, reconstructive or aesthetic surgery. 
  • Changing Faces (UK)  provides confidential one-to-one counselling, support & information line, online community, skin-camouflage advice. Strong for everyday appearance concerns and family education. 
  • Saving Faces  is the only charity in the UK solely dedicated to worldwide reduction of facial injuries and diseases, offers research opportunities, useful information and patient stories 
  • Let's Face It  offers one-to-one friendship links for people with facial disfigurement 

Pain Management and post-operative support 

  • Pain UK  provides a voice for people in pain, founded in November 2011. Information, resources, management tips and a support group. 
  • Pain Concern is a national charity offering support and information for both healthcare professionals and people living with pain 
  • Pain Association Scotland delivers professionally led self-management pain education in the community 
  • British Pain Society is the largest multidisciplinary professional organisation in the field of pain within the UK. Produces publications on Pain Management Programmes 
  • Pain Relief Foundation is a registered charity since 1979, specializing in research into causes and treatment of chronic pain Associated with Pain Clinic at The Walton Centre 

Other 

  • The Lee Spark Necrotising Fasciitis Foundation (UK) raises awareness and offering help & support with Necrotising Fasciitis to those affected.
  • Caring Matters Now offers free emotional support, peer connections, and practical information for people affected by rare skin conditions, including those facing skin cancer concerns or reconstructive/plastic surgery. They also offer specialist medical signposting, trusted resources, and community support to help individuals and families navigate treatment decisions and recovery. 
  • The Gorlin Syndrome Group  is a UK-based support network offering guidance and information to individuals with Gorlin syndrome, and their families and carers. 
  • Lymphodema Support Network   is a UK-based support network for those with Lymphoedema or Cellulitis, as well informational resources on the conditions. 
  • XP Support Group  is a UK charitable Trust aiming to relieve the needs of persons with Xeroderma Pigmentosum and other related conditions and their families. The Group raises funds for research, gives grants for UV protective equipment and products, assists families to attend night time camps in the UK, USA, France & Germany or respite in a protective environment.

Specialist Trauma Support:

  • Making Every Contact Count (MECC)  helps you to raise awareness, motivate and signpost people to help them to improve their health and wellbeing. At the touch of a button you can access information on full range of self-care, national and local support services. 
  • Day One Trauma (UK)  offers practical and emotional support to anyone who has experienced major trauma in the UK 
  • Trauma Recovery Centre  offers specialist trauma informed psychological therapies for children and young people affected by trauma 
  • PTSD UK provides information, support and signposting for those affected by PTSD. 
  • Victim Support  gives free confidential support for victims of crime and traumatic events. 

Physical trauma and injury:

  •   Major Trauma Group provides online emotional peer support community for major trauma survivors. 

Scarring (Any Cause):

Burns and thermal injuries:

Road traffic accidents: 

  • Brake is a National Road Victim Service with useful information, legal support and bereavement support for road crash victims. 
  • Road Victims Trust is a regional road safety charity with victim support services operating in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.
  • Aftermath Support is a regional road safety charity with victim support services operating in Northwest England   

General psychological support:

  •   Mind   provide a range of information and mental health support resources 
  •   Samaritans offer 24/7 emotional and crisis support; Call 116 123 
  •   Anxiety UK offer support for any kind of anxiety including trauma-related anxiety including subsidised therapy, support groups, self-management courses and useful resources. 

Modern Slavery:

Contact information

Address: Pinderfields Hospital

Opening days and time: Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Telephone: 01924 541510

 

 

Acknowledgements

The information on this page has been reviewed by the Every Voice Matters (EVM) group. EVM is a patient experience group of current and former psychology patients who want to make a difference in the psychology department - and in wider areas too. To find out more about our EVM group please see: tiny.cc/EVM