Patient Information

Choosing Your Surgeon

Guidelines for Patients

When choosing a surgeon to perform your surgery, it is important to ensure that they are properly trained to perform the procedure. Australian surgeons are all members of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, and can be recognised by the letters FRACS after their name. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is the only surgical training body which is recognised by the Australian Medical Council.

Doctors claiming to be members of other institutions such as the College of Cosmetic Surgery (CCS) are not recognised by the Australian Medical Council or the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons as being qualified to perform surgery. It is important to ensure that your surgeon has the letters FRACS after their name.

The difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon is training. At present, anyone with a basic medical degree may perform cosmetic surgery and call themselves a cosmetic surgeon. Only members of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons are plastic surgeons with extensive training. It takes 8-10 years of extra training after graduating from medicine to qualify as a plastic surgeon.

The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons is recognised by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons as the only legitimate professional body representing the field of cosmetic surgery in this country.

Each member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons is fully trained and qualified in Plastic Surgery, operates only in accredited surgical facilities, adheres to a strict code of ethics, and regularly attends continuing medical education courses.

• You can contact the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons on
  1300 367 446 to check if your surgeon is a qualified plastic surgeon.