Compare qualified plastic and cosmetic surgeons in Australia

No. "Plastic surgeon" is a protected medical specialty requiring 12+ years of training and FRACS qualification. "Cosmetic surgeon" was an unregulated title that anyone with a basic medical degree could use. Since 2023 Medical Board reforms, only FRACS-qualified specialists can use protected titles. If a doctor calls themselves a "cosmetic surgeon" but isn't FRACS qualified, they have substantially less training in surgical safety, complication management, and reconstructive techniques.

Search the AHPRA register at ahpra.gov.au — type their name and check their specialty registration shows "Specialist Plastic Surgery". Also check the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons directory (plasticsurgery.org.au) which only lists FRACS members. Verify their hospital privileges (legitimate plastic surgeons operate at accredited hospitals, not just office-based clinics). Check Australian regulators, not international ones — overseas qualifications don't automatically translate to Australian standards.

Following 2023 Medical Board of Australia reforms, all cosmetic surgery patients must observe a mandatory 7-day cooling-off period between consultation and booking surgery (or 3 months for under-18s). This applies whether you see a plastic surgeon or a cosmetic doctor. Patients also must receive a referral from their GP for cosmetic procedures. These rules exist to prevent high-pressure sales tactics that were common in the cosmetic surgery industry.

Medicare covers reconstructive plastic surgery (post-cancer, congenital, post-trauma) but NOT purely cosmetic procedures. Private health insurance covers procedures with an MBS item number (which excludes most cosmetic work). Procedures with mixed indications (rhinoplasty for breathing AND cosmetic, breast reduction for back pain, eyelid surgery for vision impairment) may attract partial rebates if you meet eligibility criteria. Discuss with your surgeon and Medicare/insurer beforehand.

Medical tourism for cosmetic surgery (Thailand, Korea, Turkey) costs 50-70% less than Australia but carries significant risks: reduced regulation, language barriers, complication management requires expensive emergency travel, no follow-up care, and Australian doctors generally won't accept responsibility for fixing complications from overseas surgery. Australian plastic surgeons report high rates of patients returning needing expensive corrective surgery. The savings often disappear if anything goes wrong.

Recovery times vary: Breast augmentation 1-2 weeks off work, 6-8 weeks no exercise. Tummy tuck 2-4 weeks off work, 6-12 weeks limited activity. Facelift 2-3 weeks visible bruising, 3 months final result. Rhinoplasty 1-2 weeks off work, 12 months for final shape. Mummy makeover combinations 4-6 weeks off work. Plan time off, organise help with kids/household for the first 2 weeks, and don't book a holiday for 6 weeks post-surgery.

All surgery carries risk: anaesthetic reactions, infection, blood clots (DVT/PE), bleeding requiring re-operation, scarring, asymmetry, dissatisfaction with results, and revision surgery needs. Complication rates are low (1-3% major complications) when performed by FRACS-qualified surgeons in accredited hospitals — significantly higher in office-based settings or with under-trained operators. Revision surgery rates: 5-10% within 10 years for breast implants, 3-5% for rhinoplasty.

Both having FRACS is the baseline — beyond that, consider: portfolio of YOUR specific body type and procedure, communication style and willingness to discuss what you'll look like (use 3D imaging if available), how complications are handled, hospital affiliation, post-operative care arrangements, and gut feeling. Visit both practices in person before deciding. Don't pick on price alone — a $3,000 saving means nothing if revision surgery costs $15,000.