Professor Vivien Lees

Practising at

Spire Manchester Hospital

Treatment information

Some of the principal treatments carried out by Professor Vivien Lees at Spire include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome surgery
• Cerebral palsy
• Dupuytren's contracture
• Ganglion removal surgery
• Trigger finger release

Other treatments

Professional profile

I am Consultant Plastic Surgeon with special interests in hand surgery which is reflected also in my NHS practice and in cosmetic surgery which I practise solely in the independent sector. After completing my medical graduation at Oxford and Cambridge, I obtained a research Doctorate (MD) from Cambridge. I completed my training in prestigious Plastic Surgery units in the UK and USA before taking up post as Consultant Plastic Surgeon in 1997 and therefore have extensive experience in my speciality areas. I am therefore able to offer diagnosis, opinion and treatment for both routine and complex cases.

I am known for my expertise in hand, wrist and upper limb surgery.

I chair the Professional Standards Committee British Society for Surgery of the Hand Past Committee Member Certification and Credentialling in Cosmetic Surgery (post-Keogh report).

I am the Educational Lead MSc in Hand Surgery (BSSH / University of Manchester). As Royal College of Surgeons of England Council Member I have a range of roles including commitments to development of surgery internationally, award of research fellowships, and supporting development of women leaders in surgery. I was formerly on the Editorial Board European Journal of Hand Surgery. I am the Clinical Academic Chair in Plastic Surgery University of Manchester.

My research work centres around the distal radioulnar joint and I have contributed to the understanding of the biomechanics and functional anatomy of this part of the forearm and wrist. The information has helped in underpinning prosthetic development (APTIS joint) and in modelling normal and diseased states. The work has been published in peer-review journals and has been the subject of numbers of international presentations. In addition we are working on the role of adipogenic stem cells in fat graft to best enhance the proportion of fat cells that survive when taken from one part of the body and injected into another site. We are also engaged at this time with a working group developing a systematic review seeking to determine the best surgical treatment for chronic scapholunate instabilty

Qualification and professional memberships

MA MB BChir (Cantab) / Oxford and Cambridge / 1985
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery

Professional memberships

Board member Intercollegiate Specialty Examination in Plastic Surgery (current)
Council Member British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) (current)
Examiner Intercollegiate Specialty Examination in Plastic Surgery
Council Member British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgerons (BAAPS) (recent)
Chairman of Education and Training Committee (developed Postgraduate Diploma in Hand Surgery - The 'Hand Diploma') (recent)
British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH)
British Association Aesthetic Surgeons (BAAPS)
Member of Manchester Hand Institute and Plastic Surgery Foundation

Professional leadership

Previous Chair of Specialist Advisory Committee for Plastic Surgery
Immediate Past President of British Society for Surgery of the Hand
Current Council Member of Royal College of Surgeons of England

Current NHS posts

Consultant Plastic Surgeon, University Hospitals South Manchester

Honorary Consultant, Central Manchester Children's Hospital

Professor of Plastic Surgery, University of Manchester

Research and Publication

Biomechanics DRUJ/forearm Stem cell applications in autologous fat graft.

Articles

H. Shaaban, G. Giakis, M. Bolton, R.Williams, L.R. Scheker & V.C. Lees. The distal radioulnar joint as a load-bearing mechanism – a biomechanical study. Journal of Hand Surgery 2004 : 29A: 1: 85-90.
Jan 2004

Malone PSC, Cooley J, Morris J, Terenghi G, Lees VC. The biomechanical and functional relationships of the proximal radioulnar joint, distal radioulnar joint and interosseous ligament. J Hand Surg European 2015; 40(5): 485-93.
Jan 2015

Shaaban H, Giakis G, Bolton M, Williams R, Wicks P, Scheker LR & Lees VC. The load-bearing characteristics of the forearm: Pattern of axial and bending force transmitted through ulna and radius. Journal of Hand Surgery 2006; 31B: 274-279.
Jan 2006

Schenker M, Lees VC, Mc George DD, Orton CI & Hancock K. Aesthetic surgical training in the UK independent sector - the clients' view: results of a survey on 155 private patients. Journal of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery 2006; 59 :1188-1192.
Jan 2006

Shaaban H, Giakis G, Bolton M, Williams R, Wicks P, Scheker LR & Lees VC. Pattern of contact area inside the DRUJ and the effect of injury of the distal radioulnar ligaments. Clinical Biomechanics 2007; 22; 313-318.
Jan 2007

Wilson S, Pollard R, Lees VC. Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Renal Dialysis patients using an Extended Carpal Tunnel Release Procedure. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery 2008:. 61(9):1090-4.
Jan 2008

Shaaban H, Pereira C, Williams R & Lees VC. The effect of elbow position on the range of supination and pronation of the forearm. European Journal of Hand Surgery 2008; 33E: 1:3-8. [Number 1 journal download in 2008]
Jan 2008

Russell CJH, Bush JA, Russell GWP, Thorlby A, McGrouther DA & Lees VC. Dynamic skin tension in the forearm: Effects of pronation and supination. Journal of Hand Surgery 2009; 34A: 423-431.
Jan 2009

Lees VC, Henley M, Sandhu D. Interface specialty training in the UK. Ann R Coll Surg Engl (Suppl) 2010; 92:126-128.
Jan 2010

Kalson N, Malone P, Lees VC. Fibre bundles in the human extensor carpi ulnaris tendon are arranged in a spiral. J Hand Surg European 2012 : 37E(6): 550-554.
Jan 2012

Malone PSC, Hutchinson CE, Kalson NS, Terenghi G, Twining CJ, & Lees VC. Subluxation-related ulnar neuropathy (SUN) syndrome related to distal radioulnar joint instability. J Hand Surg European 2012; 37: 652-664.
Jan 2012

Peck F, Roe AE, Ng CY, Duff C, McGrouther DA, Lees VC. The Manchester short splint: A change to splinting practice in the rehabilitation of zone II flexor tendon repairs. Hand Therapy 2014; 19(2) : 47-53.
Jan 2014

Lees VC, Warwick D, Gillespie P, Brown A, Akhavani M, Dewer D, Boyce D, Papastasiou S, Ragoowansi R,Wong J. A multicentre, randomized, double-blind trial of the safety and efficacy of mannose-6-phosphate in patients having acute Zone II flexor tendon repair. J Hand Surg European 2015; 40(7) : 682-94.
Jan 2015

KS Johal, VC Lees & AJ Reid. Adipose-derived stem cells; selecting for translational success. Regenerative Medicine 2015; 10(1): 79-96.
Jan 2015

Malone PSC, Cooley J, Terenghi G, Lees VC. The effect of elbow extension on the biomechanics of the osseoligamentous strucutres of the forearm. J Hand Surg American 2015 ; 40(9) : 1776-84.
Jan 2015

Johal KS, Lees V, Reid AJ. Selected adipose-stem cell supplementation for promoting autologous fat graft survival in plastic surgery Int J Surg 2015; 18 : 241.
Jan 2015

Personal Profile

I have recreational interests in history and historical biography. I relax in my pottery studio. l hold a Private Pilot's Licence (PPL). Activity-based pursuits include scuba diving, pilates, fell walking and dog agility.

My husband and I lead a team to India once a year to undertake a surgical camp for leprosy and burns patients supporting that activity with our own registered Charity 'Hands for Life.' 

Private contact details