What is plastic surgery?
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty that aims to restore and/or enhance one's form and function through surgical and non-surgical means. The adjective plastic means sculpting or reshaping, which is derived from Greek plastikē. It includes many subspecialties, such as hand, craniofacial, microsurgery, burns, breast, pediatrics, and aesthetics. Although aesthetic or cosmetic surgery is usually the most well-known subspecialty to the general public, it represents a very small scope of practice in the field of plastic surgery.
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty that aims to restore and/or enhance one's form and function through surgical and non-surgical means. The adjective plastic means sculpting or reshaping, which is derived from Greek plastikē. It includes many subspecialties, such as hand, craniofacial, microsurgery, burns, breast, pediatrics, and aesthetics. Although aesthetic or cosmetic surgery is usually the most well-known subspecialty to the general public, it represents a very small scope of practice in the field of plastic surgery.
What is a plastic surgery fellowship?
Plastic surgeons must undergo training through medical school (4-6 years) and plastic surgeon residency (5+ years) before being eligible to practice independently. Prior to entering independent practice, a significant proportion of graduates choose to pursue additional training, or fellowship, to further improve their clinical and surgical skills. It may or may not take place at one's home institution. Fellowships can be either hands-on or observerships. It may last from 3 months to 2 years, depending on the chosen subspecialties mentioned previously.
Plastic surgeons must undergo training through medical school (4-6 years) and plastic surgeon residency (5+ years) before being eligible to practice independently. Prior to entering independent practice, a significant proportion of graduates choose to pursue additional training, or fellowship, to further improve their clinical and surgical skills. It may or may not take place at one's home institution. Fellowships can be either hands-on or observerships. It may last from 3 months to 2 years, depending on the chosen subspecialties mentioned previously.
Is my surgeon qualified?
A plastic surgeon should have the appropriate education and qualification to carry out your procedure. They should have gone through the appropriate training and are registered with the public medical register. Ask for their qualification when in doubt (eg. specialty of training during residency, accreditation of fellowship, board certification, etc). Acquiring plastic surgery procedures from those who are not board certified can be dangerous. In the United States, plastic surgeons are board certified as Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). The Canadian equivalent is Fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC).
In addition, online reviews of surgeons can found at
A plastic surgeon should have the appropriate education and qualification to carry out your procedure. They should have gone through the appropriate training and are registered with the public medical register. Ask for their qualification when in doubt (eg. specialty of training during residency, accreditation of fellowship, board certification, etc). Acquiring plastic surgery procedures from those who are not board certified can be dangerous. In the United States, plastic surgeons are board certified as Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). The Canadian equivalent is Fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC).
In addition, online reviews of surgeons can found at