How do I choose a plastic surgeon?

First, determine their official credibility:

  1. Check if they are a member of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons. Membership guarantees the training required to perform plastic and reconstructive surgery.
  2. Check with your provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons to see whether the surgeon is licensed and whether disciplinary action has been taken against them.
  3. Verify their credentials and training. In Canada, only the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons certifies physicians and surgeons in medical specialties. Ask the surgeon about the specialty they are accredited in by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Next, assess any risk:

  1. Ask the surgeon how often they perform the procedure you want and make sure you are clear on the severity and frequency of any complications.
  2. Ask the surgeon whether they have hospital admitting privileges in case of complications after surgery and call the hospital to verify this information. If the doctor has an in-office operating suite, ask if it is certified.

If you still aren’t sure, there are a few more ways to give yourself peace of mind:

  1. Ask your family physician or other doctor knowledgeable about the local medical community for their opinion on your prospective surgeon. Also, get a checkup from your family doctor to see if you have any health problems that might make cosmetic surgery risky.
  2. Canadian physicians and surgeons carry medical malpractice insurance through the Canadian Medical Protective Association. Inquire about this if it is important to you.
  3. Don’t feel pressured to agree to more procedures than you want, regardless of the price, and be cautious of shifty sales tactics. Remember, this is a medical procedure, not an item in a store.
  4. Be wary of any surgeon who “guarantees” satisfaction or minimizes the risks or recovery time involved.
  5. Ask if the person giving the anesthesia is properly certified.
  6. Read the patient consent form carefully before signing it. Ask what steps the surgeon will take if complications occur or if further surgery is needed and what type of follow-up care will be given. Be thorough when discussing your expectations with your doctor. Proper communication before surgery tends to result in greater satisfaction.
  7. Most importantly, feel comfortable with the surgeon you have selected. Hopefully you will not have a complication and things will run smoothly. However, should you have a complication, knowing your surgeon will help you through it goes a long way. You might want to ask your prospective surgeon what they would do if you suffered one of the complications they described when talking about the surgery. If the surgeon does not even mention potential complications, ask about them.

What is the difference between plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, and reconstructive surgery?

Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty concerned with restoring form and function to a patient. Often, procedures performed by plastic surgeons are classified as either reconstructive or cosmetic but most plastic surgeons would argue there is an element of both in almost all of the procedures they perform. In Canada, the term “plastic surgeon” is a protected term and can only be used by surgeons who have completed their training in plastic surgery in a program accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Other terms such as aesthetic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon do not meet these rigorous standards, and other practitioners including otolaryngologists, dermatologists and even dentists sometimes refer to themselves this way. If you have questions about the veracity of the claims that a practitioner is making, you can always contact your province’s College of Physicians and Surgeons or the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons to make inquiries. 

Cosmetic surgery describes procedures focused on a patient’s physical appearance. These procedures can simultaneously be reconstructive, like a rhinoplasty that improves nasal breathing and facial symmetry. Common cosmetic procedures include: 

  • Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
  • Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)
  • Breast enlargement (augmentation mammoplasty)
  • Breast lift 
  • Chemical peel 
  • Dermabrasion 
  • Facelift 
  • Forehead lift 
  • Hair replacement 
  • Liposuction
  • Rhinoplasty (nose surgery)
  • Otoplasty (ear surgery) 
  • Spider vein treatment
  • Brazilian Butt Lift

Reconstructive surgery is performed to correct or improve patient deficits. The most common procedures are done to address problems evident at birth or acquired as a result of trauma or cancer surgery. Common examples of reconstructive procedures include: 

  • Breast reconstruction
  • Breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty)
  • Cleft lip and palate
  • Hand surgery
  • Cancer reconstruction (anywhere in the body)
  • Burn surgery
  • Tissue expansion