A plastic surgeon is a recognised specialist surgeon who has successfully completed the training program of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in plastic surgery. 

The RACS trains all the surgeons in Australia and New Zealand, of all specialties including General, Orthopaedic, Cardiac, Neurosurgery and Plastic. The training takes about 8 years once the doctor graduates from medical school.  The RACS training programme includes academic learning, multiple exams, and supervised training at accredited hospital positions in thousands of operations throughout the training period.

If a trainee completes the RACS training programme he or she achieves the qualification FRACS (Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons).  In all surgical fields in Australia, for example Orthopaedics, you will find that the surgeons are FRACS.  The same applies to Plastic Surgery. If the surgeon is a trained RACS surgeon, he or she will be a FRACS.

The question to ask is:  Would you have brain surgery by anyone other than a recognised, trained neurosurgeon? Would you have a hip replacement by anyone other than a recognised orthopaedic surgeon?  No?. So if you’re  considering a cosmetic surgery procedure, you should ensure that the prospective surgeon is:

1. A fully qualified Plastic surgeon with an FRACS.  No other qualification denotes a fully trained Australian specialist surgeon.
2.  A member of ASPS (Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons).  Only qualified, recognised plastic surgeons can join this body.
3. Actively practising the type of surgery you are interested in having.
4. Willing to let you review their real qualifications, and explain to you what they mean.  Beware, as some “qualifications” can be gained after a weekend’s attendance of lectures. Meaningful qualifications take years of study to gain.