About Plastic Surgeons

Plastic Surgeons represents plastic surgeons (reconstructive and cosmetic) who have trained and practised their specialty in compliance with the professional standards and ethics of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons *(RACS). In addition to being responsible for maintaining acceptable standards of professional conduct to which all members must adhere, the Society promotes public education about plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures. What is the difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon?The difference is training. Anyone with a medical degree can perform cosmetic surgery in Australia. The basic medical degree, MBBS (bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery) provides a minimum level of surgical experience at medical school and training in hospitals. This training equips graduates to perform basic surgical procedures such as the removal of cysts and warts. However, a boom in the cosmetic surgery industry has seen an increasing number of advanced invasive surgical procedures being performed by doctors with no formal surgical training. It takes 8 to 10 years of extra training – on top of a medical degree - to qualify as a plastic surgeon. The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons is recognised by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons as the legitimate professional body representing the field of cosmetic surgery in this country. You can always check whether somebody is a fully trained plastic surgeon by telephoning the Society's hotline

1300 • • •• • •