Did you know that botulinum toxin is the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment in the world? Miss Sherina Balaratnam co-authored the chapter on it.
S-Thetics Clinic is proud to announce that Miss Sherina Balaratnam, our Founder and Medical Director, is a published co-author of the Oxford Textbook of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, published by Oxford University Press. The textbook forms part of the prestigious Oxford Textbooks in Surgery series and represents a landmark academic resource for plastic surgeons in training across the globe.
A Chapter Born from Clinical Experience
Miss Balaratnam co-authored Chapter 12.4, Botulinum Toxins, alongside Consultant Dermatologist Dr Tamara W. Griffiths and Specialist Oral Surgeon Mr Sami Stagnell. The chapter draws on her extensive background in both surgical medicine and aesthetic practice, covering the science, clinical indications, techniques, and safety considerations of botulinum toxin treatments.
The invitation to contribute came from Mr Nigel Mercer MB ChB, ChM, FRCS, FRCPCH, a former NHS Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Past President of the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS). The process began in 2013, spanning several years of review, peer collaboration, and editorial oversight before reaching publication.
“I am proud to have been able to contribute some of my experience to the next generation of plastic surgeons as they embark on what is a formidable but rewarding career.”
Miss Sherina Balaratnam, Founder and Medical Director, S-Thetics Clinic
A Surgeon’s Foundation
Miss Balaratnam qualified as a doctor over 26 years ago and spent 7 years in NHS plastic and reconstructive surgery, gaining experience in reconstructive burn surgery, paediatric burns, trauma surgery, and skin cancer reconstruction. It is this depth of surgical training that informed her contribution to a textbook designed to prepare the next generation of plastic surgeons for the Intercollegiate Examination.
The Oxford Textbook of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is edited by Simon Kay, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; David McCombe, Clinical Associate Professor at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne; and Daniel Wilks, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. It covers all aspects of the plastic surgery curriculum, spanning 13 sections including General Principles, Burns, Nerve, Limbs, Facial Trauma, Cosmetic Surgery, and Ethics.
A milestone in academic medicine: Miss Sherina Balaratnam has been recognised as a published author in one of the most prestigious surgical reference texts in the world.
Academic Credibility at the Heart of Aesthetic Medicine
Miss Balaratnam is among a small number of aesthetic medicine specialists to have contributed to a surgical textbook at this level. Alongside her authorship, she holds a range of academic and professional distinctions: she is co-author of the Oxford Textbook of Aesthetic Medicine, a Tatler Top Doctor 2026, peer-voted UK Medical Aesthetic Practitioner of the Year, and the first non-US Doctor to be appointed as a BTL Aesthetics Global Key Opinion Leader in over 30 years.
This academic grounding is not incidental. It informs every element of practice at S-Thetics: the emphasis on clinical assessment, the commitment to evidence-based treatment protocols, and a philosophy that places patient safety and long-term outcomes above all else.
What This Means for Our Patients
When you choose S-Thetics Clinic, you are placing your care in the hands of a practitioner whose knowledge has been peer-reviewed, tested at the highest academic levels, and recognised by the medical community. Miss Balaratnam’s 14 years specialising in aesthetic medicine are built on a surgical and academic foundation that very few in this field can match.
If you would like to explore how Miss Balaratnam and the S-Thetics team can support your aesthetic goals, we welcome you to arrange a consultation at our clinic in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.
→ Book a consultation at sthetics.co.uk/book
S-Thetics Clinic, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
About Miss Sherina Balaratnam
Miss Sherina Balaratnam MBBS MRCS(Edin) MSc(UCL) is the Founder and Medical Director of S-Thetics Clinic in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. With over 26 years as a qualified doctor, a 7-year background in NHS reconstructive plastic surgery, and 14 years specialising in aesthetic medicine, she holds a rare combination of surgical training and aesthetic expertise. She is a Tatler Top Doctor 2026, peer-voted UK Medical Aesthetic Practitioner of the Year, co-author of the Oxford Textbook of Aesthetic Medicine, and the first non-US Doctor appointed as a BTL Aesthetics Global Key Opinion Leader in over 30 years.