Titles in this field can be genuinely confusing, and the differences between them are not obvious to someone outside medicine. Since these distinctions affect who is operating on you, they are worth understanding.
Specialist registration
In Australia, “Specialist Plastic Surgeon” is a protected title. It can only be used by practitioners who hold specialist registration in plastic surgery with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Reaching that point requires medical school, general surgical training, and then several years of accredited specialist training in plastic and reconstructive surgery, followed by fellowship examinations.
The post-nominal FRACS (Plast) indicates Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in plastic surgery.
Where the confusion arises
The term “cosmetic surgeon” is not a protected title and does not indicate any particular training pathway. In Australia, any registered medical practitioner may perform some cosmetic procedures, and the training behind that varies considerably from one practitioner to another.
This is not a criticism of individuals. It is simply a fact about how the system is structured, and one that many patients are unaware of when they begin looking.
How to check for yourself
You do not need to take anyone’s word for this, including mine. AHPRA maintains a public register at ahpra.gov.au where you can look up any registered practitioner in Australia and see their registration type, their specialty, and whether any conditions apply to their practice.
It takes about a minute. I would encourage every patient to do it, whichever surgeon they are considering.
Questions worth asking
- Are you a registered specialist plastic surgeon, and what is your AHPRA registration number?
- Where will my procedure be performed, and is that facility accredited?
- Who provides my anaesthesia, and what are their qualifications?
- Who will I see if I have a problem afterwards, and how do I reach someone out of hours?
- What happens, practically and financially, if a complication requires further surgery?
A surgeon who is comfortable with their training will answer all of these without hesitation.
Why it matters
Most of the time, planned surgery goes as expected. The value of thorough training shows up in the less common situations: recognising a complication early, managing it well, and having the reconstructive experience to address a difficult problem. That is what you are choosing when you choose a surgeon.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. All surgery carries risk. Suitability for any procedure is assessed during consultation.