Blog

If you answered no to this, then you're not alone!!  In our experience the majority of prospective patients who ring our rooms in Brisbane to enquire about plastic surgery aren't aware of the difference between a Specialist Plastic Surgeon and the fake title Cosmetic Surgeon!

The Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons are attempting to better educate the public as well as urging the corporate watchdog to put a stop to charlatan  surgeons.  You can read more about their efforts here. 

It's all in the title and qualifications!

Only doctors who have completed 8-12 additional years of medical and surgical training after their initial medical degree can legally use the title Specialist Plastic Surgeon.   Fake or rubbish titles such as "Cosmetic Surgeon" is not a recognised specialty by any governing body in Australia.  Sadly, 81% of respondents in a recent survey conducted by The Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons  thought that if they were seeing a cosmetic surgeon, that they were seeing a registered specialist”.

How can I be sure my surgeon is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon?

This is perhaps THE most important step when researching your surgeon.  Australian Plastic Surgeons are board certified and have the following qualifications:- MBBS FRACS (Plastic Surgery) - MBBS FRACS stands for Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery.  FRACS stands for Fellow of The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and only FRACS surgeons can call themselves the official title of  SPECIALIST PLASTIC SURGEON.  Make sure your surgeon has this title!!  Your surgeon should be listed here. 

You can also check your surgeon's credentials and any notifications or limitations on their registration via AHPRA (Australia's Health Practitioner Regulator) as not all cosmetic surgeons are Specialist Plastic Surgeons! In Australian even GPs are legally able to perform invasive surgical procedures like breast augmentation surgery. Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon should be registered with the medical board of Australia and their registration status should reflect that of a SPECIALIST PLASTIC SURGEON.

Is my plastic surgeon endorsed by leading professional societies?

Another way to review your surgeon's credentials is to look for professional memberships and endorsements by official organisations such as The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, The Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons The Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS).  

Learn about 9 other qualities to help you choose the best plastic surgeon for you by reading our recent blog post here. 

Dr Eddie Cheng is a board certified Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Brisbane, Australia.  Socialise with us @arplasticsurgery to learn more about Dr Eddie Cheng and our Team.