Cosmetic surgery is a skilled procedure and it is recommended that you choose a surgeon who has undergone a full training programme for cosmetic surgery. Your own GP can advise but do also ask the surgeon the name of the professional body to which he or she belongs and double-check the credentials with them. Also on this page is a checklist of the questions you should ask your surgeon during the first consultation, before agreeing to surgery.
Ensure that you have read up on the procedure that you would like – you will be in a better position to judge just how professional your surgeon is. The British Association of Cosmetic Surgery has a guide for the layman – this costs £9.99 + postage and can be bought on line at www.b-a-c-s.co.uk
ElixirNew.com is an independent information source and is not paid to list surgeons or endorse them. We will however write independent editorial on good and bad experiences that come to our attention. A list of professional bodies whose aim is to promote the highest standards in the profession are detailed below:
CHOOSING A SURGEON TICKLIST
1. Ask your family doctor/friends for a recommendation – the best recommendations are usually personal ones
2. Check the surgeon’s qualifications – ask to see certificates.
3. Check that the practitioner is a member of an appropriate professional body(see the list below).
3. Make sure the surgeon has medical negligence/professional indemnity insurance – ask to see the insurance certificate
5. Ask the consultant ask for detailed information on the procedures
5. Has the surgeon had any legal cases brought against him/her – for what and what was the outcome – in the UK you can check with the General MedicalCouncil, if you are not online at home you can use a computer at your your local library.
Cosmetic surgery organisations
International
The International Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
www.isaps.org
International Plastic and Reconstructive Association
www.euraps.org
The European Association of Aesthetic Surgery
Via Monteverdi 5
20124 Milan, Italy
www.assece.com
Email:info@assece.com
UK
General Medical Council.
www.gmc-uk.org
British Cosmetic Doctors Association
T: 0800 328 3613
www.cosmeticdoctors.co.uk
British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
Royal College of Surgeons of England
35-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields
London WC2A 3PN UK
www.baaps.org.uk
Advice line: T: + 44(0)20 7405 2234
British Association of Plastic Surgeons
Royal College of Surgeons
Address as above
T: ++44(0)20 7831 5161
www.baps.co.uk
British Association of Cosmetic Surgeons
www.b-a-c-s.co.uk
British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
T: +44(0)20 7405 8074
British Dental Association
T: +44(0)20 7935 0875
British Association of Dermatologists
T: +44 (0)20 7383 0266
www.bad.org.uk
AUSTRALIA
Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
Level 1, 33-35 Atchinson Street
St Leonards 2065 NSW Australia
T: +61 2 9437 9200
F: +61 2 9437 9210
www.plasticsurgery.org.au
Email:info@plasticsurgery.org.au
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand Association of Plastic Reconstructive Aesthetic Surgeons
Tristram Plastic Surgery and Dermatology Group
103 Tristram Street,
Hamilton, New Zealand.
T: + 64 7 838 1035
F: + 64 7 838 2032
SOUTH AFRICA
Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of Southern Africa (APRSSA)
PO Box 3151
Bryanston 2021
Republic of South Africa
T: +27 11463 1210
F: +27 11463 2485
www.plasticsurgeons.co.za
The above organisation has 120 members and represents 98% of the specialist surgeons in South Africa.
US
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
www.plasticsurgery.org
The above has a doctor finder and a toll free number in the US 1800 635 0635
Email: find@plasticsurgery.org
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
11081 Winners Circle, Suite 200
Los Aamitos, California 90720
www.surgery.org
American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
310 S. Henry Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.aafprs.org
Germany
VDPC – Vereinigung der Deutschen Plastischen Chirugen
www.vdpc.de
Italy
SICPRE – Societa Italiana di Chirugia Plastica
www.chirurgiaplastica.org
www.sicpre.it
Spain
SECPRE – Sociedad Española de Cirugia Plastica Reparadora y Estètica
www.secpre.org
Switzerland
The Swiss Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
www.plastic-surgery.ch