River Medical Group surgery firm plans major expansion of clinics

featured in The Sunday Business Post - 02/11/2008.

A new Irish cosmetic surgery company, River Medical Group, plans to open a chain of surgical clinics to take advantage of increasing demand for cosmetic procedures.

The company has launched a €2 million clinic in Dublin, and is now examining a number of further locations around Ireland, according to Mike Ormonde, a director and shareholder of the group. Ormonde, a radio and publishing entrepreneur. said that the firm intended to open outlets in all the major cities and in certain large towns.

"We think there is a big market out there and we want to exploit it. We are examining a number of suitable locations as we speak," he said. According to Ormonde, the firm's new Dublin clinic has business in place, both for surgical and non-surgical procedures. The company expects to generate revenues of €1.5 million in its first year of trading.

All surgical procedures will be carried out at private hospitals, while the non-surgical elements will be conducted at the company's Baggot Street clinic.

"We will never operate in unregulated private premises," Ormonde said. "The cosmetic surgery market is completely unregulated. You could set up an operating table in your office and carry out a procedure.There is something wrong with that system and we will be lobbying for proper regulation."

Labros Chatzis, a consultant plastic surgeon who has worked for more than 20 years in Ireland, Greece and Britain, has been appointed as medical director of River Medical. The company employs ten people but, according to Ormonde, this will rise steadily. "Cosmetic surgery is no longer the preserve of the rich and famous." he said. "It is becoming far more acceptable to have botox or any cosmetic procedure."

Ormonde is backing the company with his business partner, Kevin Branigan. The pair are also investors in 4FM, the new radio station which goes on air in January, and Radio Nova 100, which is due to launch next year. They also have interests in property, publishing and education.