Skin Lesion & Lipoma Patients
If you are booked for a skin lesion procedure, please read the important insurance information specific to your appointment before attending.
Insurance information for skin lesion patientsThis page explains why Mr. Blackburn operates with two consultant surgeons for complex microsurgical breast reconstruction, and includes a note for patients insured with AXA Health.
Reducing operating time is an important factor in optimising outcomes for complex microsurgical breast reconstruction. A shorter operation means less anaesthetic exposure, less physiological stress, and less fatigue for both the surgical team and the patient, all of which are likely to influence recovery and the risk of complications.
This was a retrospective comparative audit of consecutive patients. The two-consultant group achieved a return-to-theatre rate of just 1.5% with no flap losses, compared to a 4.5% return-to-theatre rate and a 1.2% flap loss rate in the other group. This comparative audit suggests that two-consultant operating is associated with lower rates of serious complications in this series. This evidence directly informs Mr. Blackburn's practice: wherever possible, he operates alongside a fellow consultant to support optimal outcomes for every patient. For these complex procedures, two-consultant operating is supported by a number of UK private medical insurers with whom Mr. Blackburn holds a contract.
Mr. Blackburn regularly works with patients insured by Aviva, Bupa, Cigna, Freedom Health, General & Medical, Saga, Simplyhealth, The Exeter, Vitality, and WPA, among others.
Patients are advised to check their policy documents carefully, as some policies may not cover fees in full and patients may be liable for a shortfall payment.
Microsurgical breast reconstruction is a complex, high-stakes procedure. When considering a surgeon, patients are encouraged to ask about volume and outcomes. Surgeons performing fewer than two free flaps per month may have less opportunity to maintain the level of skill and team familiarity that this surgery demands. Patients should not hesitate to ask any surgeon — including Mr. Blackburn — about their individual complication rates before making a decision.
Mr. Blackburn performs approximately 75 flaps per year for microsurgical breast reconstruction. Over his career he has performed over 1,000 flaps for breast reconstruction with a 0% flap failure rate. His mean length of hospital stay is now less than two days, with approximately 20% of patients going home the day after surgery.
Mr. Blackburn is not currently contracted with AXA Health. He understands that a number of colleagues with recognised subspecialty expertise in microsurgical breast reconstruction are similarly not currently contracted with AXA Health.
Patients with AXA Health cover who would like to be treated by Mr. Blackburn are very welcome on a self-pay basis. Please contact the team to discuss this.
Patients wishing to use their AXA cover for microsurgical breast reconstruction are advised to contact AXA directly to confirm which surgeons are available to them under their policy. When doing so, Mr. Blackburn would encourage patients to satisfy themselves that their surgeon has a subspecialty interest in microsurgical breast reconstruction, is performing more than 25 cases per year, and is able to provide up-to-date complication and failure rate data that reflects their own individual practice.
The information presented is based on a retrospective audit of clinical practice and is intended for general guidance; individual outcomes may vary.