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What is a 'fully qualified' plastic surgeon?
A fully qualified plastic surgeon is a specialist recognised by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). These are the peak national bodies that govern the training and practice of plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery in Australia.
In addition, all of our surgeons have undertaken further fellowship training in sub-specialist areas of plastic surgery. These areas includes:
- Cosmetic and microsurgery (Dr Frank Lin)
- Hand and wrist surgery (Dr Neela Janakiramanan)
- Microsurgery and burns (Dr Tam Quinn)
Dr Frank Lin (MED0001193706) Registered Medical Practitioner, Specialist Plastic Surgeon (specialist registration in Surgery-plastic surgery)
Dr Neela Janakiramanan (MED0001205645) Registered Medical Practitioner, Specialist Plastic Surgeon (specialist registration in Surgery-plastic surgery)
Dr Tam Quinn(MED0001217095) Registered Medical Practitioner, Specialist Plastic Surgeon (specialist registration in Surgery-plastic surgery)
Specialist Surgeons are entitled to have “FRACS” after their name, denoting their Fellowship within the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
What is the difference between a Specialist Plastic Surgeon and a 'Cosmetic Surgeon'?
In Australia, like many other countries around the world, certain cosmetic procedures can legally be performed by doctors who have not undergone the rigorous training and met the requirements of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
They may be called “cosmetic surgeons” and may have their own affiliations, but they are not recognized by peak professional bodies such as RACS and ASPS, and are therefore not entitled to use “FRACS”.
Further, they are not entitled to recognition by Australian Health Practitioners Registration Agency (AHPRA) as a “Specialist Surgeon”, or a “Specialist Plastic Surgeon”.
A current list of recognized medical and surgical specialties is available on the AHPRA website.
https://www.ahpra.gov.au/
In Australia, look for these following affiliations as a sign that your surgeon is in fact a fully qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon.
Why is it important to choose a Specialist Plastic Surgeon?
Firstly, the difference is in the training.
Secondly, and more importantly, the reason pertains to surgical safety, and the ability to provide comprehensive care, even in the event of a surgical complication.
Specialist Plastic Surgeons are entitled to:
- Admitting rights in major public hospitals
- Admitting rights in major private hospitals
- Recognition by AHPRA and Medicare as Specialists, with Specialist Provider number.
- Recognition by Private Health Insurers (eg. Medibank Private, BUPA, etc).
These are important because the ultimate goal in ANY surgery or invasive procedure, is your SAFETY. And only a fully qualified Specialist can provide a full and comprehensive service in the event of problems that may require admission to hospital.
What questions should I ask my surgeon before committing to surgery?
We recommend asking your surgeon these questions before committing to a surgery.
- Are you recognized by the RACS or AHPRA a Specialist Plastic Surgeon?
- Do you have admitting rights in a public or private hospital if I have a complication that requires hospitalization?
- Do you specialize in the surgery you are recommending for me?
- How many of these operations have you performed?
