From BAPS to BAPRAS
Why change the name of the Association?
In late 2005, BAPS became BAPRAS, the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. It was not a universally popular decision, particularly amongst the long-established membership. Nevertheless, at the Association AGM of December 2004 following a “spirited” debate members voted by 88 to 37 to change the name.
But why change after 60 years of being the de-facto voice of the specialty? Plastic surgery had become a very broad surgical discipline. The Association represents all subspecialties practised by UK plastic surgeons, but there was increasing fragmentation of these from the main discipline. It was decided that the time had come to refresh the Association’s image and project an identity accurately reflecting the work performed by modern-day Plastic Surgeons. There had been many changes to the structure and delivery of healthcare together with training since the Association was formed in 1946 [Link to genesis of BAPRAS] A new title would better emphasise the Association’s representation of all UK Plastic surgeons, what they actually did, whilst avoiding the on-going confusion with the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons (BAPS).
It was not an entirely new idea. There had been long standing unease about the interaction between the reconstructive and aesthetic elements of the specialty. Roy Sanders had proposed the idea of a change to “BAPRAS” whilst President in 1993. However, the notion, and title, got a “resounding drubbing at the AGM that year and was rejected together with a proposal to merge with the British Association Of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). Not until 2003, under the presidency of Martin Milling did the mood change. A very successful rebranding of the British Journal of Plastic Surgery (BJPS) by the Editor, Simon Kay, to the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (JPRAS), achieved a more international and inclusive publication. Moves for a similar change to the Association soon re-surfaced. A debate was started amongst the membership, a main sticking point being the inclusion of the word “Aesthetic” in the title. However, Michael Earley, President at the time argued that the majority of similar organisations worldwide included it in their titles and that the word acknowledged the “thread of artistry that extend throughout our specialty”.
The 2004 AGM decision was followed by much preparatory work throughout the next year during the Presidency of Chris Khoo. Not until July 11th 2006 did President Bob Page officially launch BAPRAS. The change of name was accompanied by a major overhaul of the Association’s visual identity, including its website and the new Salamander logo designed to communicate the nature and role of modern plastic surgery.