In this "Giants in Plastic Surgery" episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, we sit down with Mr. Norman Waterhouse, an internationally renowned Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon best known for his expertise in facial, craniofacial and aesthetic surgery.
Mr. Waterhouse reflects on a career spanning more than four decades: from training in Cambridge, Bristol and London, with further experience in Bordeaux, Adelaide and Tokyo, to leading the Craniofacial Unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and later entering full-time private practice. A former President of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and the Plastic Surgery Section of the Royal Society of Medicine, he has also published extensively, contributed to surgical education worldwide and delivered life-changing care through Facing the World and Operation Smile.
Beyond his clinical achievements, this conversation explores the person behind the surgeon. Mr. Waterhouse discusses the experiences that defined his training, whether success required sacrificing his hobbies, and how he learned to recognize his own limitations. He shares what being a good husband and father means to him, reflects on his family's involvement in healthcare, and considers what he might have done differently.
We also delve into the realities of establishing a private practice: when the right time is to begin, how he developed business knowledge, whether financial uncertainty concerned him, and what he wishes he had known at the outset. Finally, he reflects on his chosen area of specialization, his contributions to professional societies, the legacy he hopes to leave, and the interests that continue to keep him busy outside surgery.
This is an honest conversation about surgical training, family, private practice, leadership, service and the lessons learned over an extraordinary career in plastic surgery.
Your host, Dr. Vimal Gokani, is a senior Specialty Registrar in plastic surgery in London, England. Your producer & editor, Charlene Kok, is a Year 4 Medical Student in Imperial College London, England, with a keen interest in Plastic Surgery.
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