Cosmetic surgeon 'left patient with dog-eared neck'

A Harley Street cosmetic surgeon left a woman with "dog-eared" skin after he botched a facelift to cure her double chin, a misconduct hearing was told.

Armando Cason allegedly made an "excessive" cut and removed too much fat from Shirley Hills's neck during the operation at his private clinic. But when Mrs Hills complained about her lumpy, pleated skin he told her to "massage" it away, it is claimed.

Mr Cason, who is said to have featured in Tatler Magazine's 1997 guide to the best cosmetic surgeons in the world, later emigrated to America.

Mrs Hills first went to see Mr Cason at his office at 10 Harley Street to cure her double chin on 26 January, 2006.

After a 10-minute consultation, the surgeon recommended a face and neck lift, it is claimed. Cason failed to give her full information about the surgery and its possible complications, the General Medical Council heard.

Mrs Hills did not see Mr Cason again until the morning of the £5,600 operation on 8 March at the Pountney Clinic at Highgate Hospital.

The surgery involved cutting away fat and skin in the neck and chin and a tightening of the muscles under the chin. But Mr Cason unnecessarily removed too much fat and skin, it is claimed. The surgeon retired from the clinic in September 2007 and emigrated to Marblehead, Massachusetts, last year with his family.

He is not attending his misconduct hearing and is not represented.

In relation to the operation it is alleged Mr Cason's actions were inappropriate, not in the best interests of the patient and below the standard expected of a plastic and cosmetic surgeon.

Mrs Hills said she was "horrified" with her surgery. But Mr Cason allegedly dismissed her concerns, pulling out pre-op photographs and said: "Well, you look better than you did before."

After seeing another doctor a few months later, Mrs Hills wrote to the Pountney Clinic asking for a refund. She was given £2,500 but the clinic claimed "surgery was in fact carried out with due care and attention".

Mrs Hills then took her complaint to the GMC. Mr Cason faces eight charges including three that his answers to a GMC form to have his name removed from the medical register were misleading and dishonest.

If he is found guilty of misconduct he faces being kicked out of the profession in Britain.

Mr Cason was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1977 and later a Fellow of the European Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and a Member of the British Association of Cosmetic Surgeons. The hearing continues.