How to choose a plastic surgeon in Australia (2026 checklist)

Choose a plastic surgeon by checking these five things first: (1) relevant credentials and registration with the appropriate industry body, (2) a minimum of 50+ public reviews averaging 4.5+, (3) transparent itemised pricing in a written quote, (4) availability within your timeframe, and (5) responsiveness to your initial enquiry. Shortlist 3 candidates, ask the same 5 questions of each, and choose the one that scores highest on communication and value — not just the lowest price.

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.