Choosing Your Surgeon

Currently in Australia, it is legal for any doctor who has a basic medical degree (MBBS) to perform surgery and to call them self a ‘Cosmetic Surgeon’, without any additional accredited training.

However, Specialist Plastic Surgeons have extensive surgical education and training in both cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, including a minimum of 12 years of medical and surgical training, with at least five years of postgraduate Specialist training. Upon completion of this, qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeons become a “Fellow” of the Royal Australasian College of

Surgeons (RACS), which is reflected by the title FRACS (Plast) in their qualifications.

The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the peak body for cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery in Australia. It administers specialist plastic surgical training, and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is the only college in Australia accredited by the Commonwealth Government to deliver this training.

Dr Jeremy Richardson is a member of the Australasian Society of Plastic Surgeons. The Society’s role is to maintain high-quality plastic surgery care by:

• Facilitating government-accredited surgical education and training for all Specialist Plastic Surgeons
• Upholding ethical and professional standards
• Promoting public education about cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.

ASPS membership criteria are stringent and by invitation only. Members are Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS), the only College in Australia accredited by the Commonwealth Government to deliver specialist surgical training.