What is Plastic Surgery Info (plasticsurgery.org.au)?

Updated

Plastic Surgery Info is the public-facing website of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the peak body for Specialist Plastic Surgeons in Australia, covering both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. It is an information and referral resource rather than a clinic or booking service: you use it to understand procedures, learn what accreditation means, check whether a surgeon is an ASPS member, and find an accredited Specialist Plastic Surgeon. It is relevant to patients and the general public, and also carries sections for members and trainees.

Who runs the site

The site is operated by ASPS. Its stated role is to represent Specialist Plastic Surgeons — those who are accredited by the Commonwealth Government of Australia, through the Australian Medical Council, to perform all reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.

That accreditation point matters when you are choosing a surgeon. The site frames surgeon accreditation as a patient-safety issue and directs visitors to verify credentials rather than rely on advertising alone.

What you can do on the site

The main practical functions fall into a few areas:

  • Find a Surgeon — a directory tool to locate an accredited Specialist Plastic Surgeon.
  • Procedures and procedure information — explanations of surgical procedures, plus a plastic surgery glossary.
  • Patient information — guidance on choosing the right plastic surgeon, questions to ask your surgeon, surgical fees, and Medicare and procedure cover.
  • Patient safety and regulation — how plastic surgery is regulated, the complaints process, and reporting complications, including complications arising from cosmetic tourism.
  • Breast device information — access to your Breast Implant Registry (BIR) data, the Australian Breast Device Registry (ABDR), information on BIA-ALCL, BIA-SCC and other cancers, and breast reconstruction awareness.
  • Credentials explained — what FRACS means, what "Specialist Plastic Surgeon" means, and what training an ASPS member has.
  • News and resources — media releases, articles and blogs, podcasts, and videos and Q&As.
  • Events and education — including the Plastic Surgery Congress (PSC) and events such as Surgery for Facial Aesthetics in Melbourne, 16–18 August 2024.
  • Research — member research profiles, the AJOPS (Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery) journal, and national ASPS research reports.
  • Member and trainee areas — Member Log In and Trainee Log In, plus information on becoming a Specialist Plastic Surgeon, hospital accreditation, and the rural and regional workforce.

How to use it when choosing a surgeon

A sensible sequence, based on what the site offers:

  1. Open Find a Surgeon to build a list of accredited Specialist Plastic Surgeons.
  2. Read What Does FRACS Mean?, What Does Specialist Plastic Surgeon Mean?, and What Training Does an ASPS Member Have? so you understand what the credentials on a surgeon's profile actually represent.
  3. Check Is Your Surgeon an ASPS Member? to confirm membership.
  4. Use Questions for Your Surgeon to prepare for a consultation.
  5. Review Surgical Fees and Medicare and Procedure Cover before committing, so you understand the cost and coverage landscape.
  6. If something goes wrong, the site points to the Complaints Process and to reporting complications, including complications from surgery overseas.

What the site is not

It is not a provider of surgery, a price list, or a booking platform. The evidence available does not indicate published pricing, and no payment platforms are referenced. Member and trainee logins exist, so some content sits behind an account — the public pages described above do not require one.

It is also not a substitute for a consultation. The site's own framing is that choosing a surgeon involves advice, recommendations, and understanding what a procedure actually involves; the website supplies the background and the verification tools for that decision.

Contact and source

The organisation can be reached on +61 2 9437 9200 via the Contact Us page. Content on the site is published by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, the peak body for Specialist Plastic Surgeons, both reconstructive and cosmetic.