You are considering cosmetic plastic surgery. This is a significant decision in your life that has great potential to improve your self-esteem and lifestyle. Choosing the right surgeon is one of the most important decisions you will make in this process. The following is ESSENTIAL information you should use in planning for cosmetic surgery.

First of all for your safety and to maximise your chances of being totally satisfied with your surgery, it is imperative that you find a bona fide surgeon, trained by and meeting the stringent criteria and high standards of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Many “cosmetic surgeons” are in fact just General Practitioners who learned procedures by watching others. Plastic Surgeons are fully qualified surgeons and Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) who have completed a rigorous training program much as Heart Surgeons, Brain Surgeons, Eye Surgeons and Orthopaedic Surgeons. You would not want an untrained doctor performing your heart operation, would you?

Look for the FRACS qualification to confirm this. Plastic surgeons are also members of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Look for the ASPS logo to confirm this. Be aware of imitation societies.

Once you have identified genuine plastic surgeons, you will need to choose between them. Plastic surgery and particularly cosmetic plastic surgery is an art form. Different surgeons have varying levels of training, experience and expertise. The ‘product’ you get will be very different from surgeon to surgeon.

When choosing a surgeon there are things that are important, things that are unimportant and warning signs to look your for.

1. Qualification of surgeon.
Ensure your surgeon is a fully qualified Plastic Surgeon with FRACS after his name. All genuine plastic surgeons in Australia are members of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons or ASPS.

2. Experience of the surgeon.

• How long has the surgeon been doing the procedure?
• How many has he or she performed?
• How often does he or she do the procedure?
• Have any complications occurred?

You should be shown photographic examples of the surgeon’s own work (pre and post-operative photographs) for the operation. This should include several examples, not just one or two, in order to satisfy you of the volume of operations the surgeon is doing.
3. Rapport with the surgeon.
You should feel comfortable with the surgeon and satisfy yourself a full and unbiased explanation of the procedure has been given with a full and detailed explanation of potential complications and side effects. At the end of the consultation you should feel happy your surgeon will look after your interests. The surgeon may be able to arrange other patients who have had the procedure to speak to you.
4. Aftercare
You need to make sure that your surgeon will look after you after the operation. What if you have questions or concerns? What if there is a problem after surgery? Will you be able to access the surgeon or his staff readily? Will the surgeon himself speak to you and offer advice and solutions? How many times will the surgeon see you after surgery? Make sure your follow-up visits are included in your surgical fee.
5. Reputation.
This can be by word of mouth (from friends and associates) or from your general practitioner. Your general practitioner will usually be aware of the reputation of particular surgeons in your area.

Q. What is the difference between a Cosmetic Surgeon and a Plastic Surgeon? What qualifications should a surgeon have? And what do they mean?

Answer: All surgeons have differing levels of training, experience and expertise. Plastic surgeons practice plastic and reconstructive surgery, including cosmetic surgery. To qualify as plastic surgeons a doctor must be trained through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), which involves a minimum of eight years after graduation as a doctor. Most are also members of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), a group whose members are ALL trained through RACS.

Cosmetic surgeons are usually registered General Practitioners, some of whom do not undertake the same medical training as plastic surgeons. Some cosmetic surgeons are fellows of the Australian College of Cosmetic Surgeons (FACCS), who recommend that members of their Faculty of Surgery complete three years of general surgical training plus two years of cosmetic surgery training, after becoming a doctor.

However none of the ACCS's qualifications or examinations are currently recognised by the official credentialling body, the Australian Medical Council and they therefore have no official status. This means that many cosmetic surgeons find it difficult to obtain operating privileges in private hospitals and licensed day surgeries.

Verify the medical credentials of your surgeon in detail before you make your final decision.