What Patient Resources Are Available on Plastic Surgery Info?

Updated

Plastic Surgery Info (plasticsurgery.org.au) is the patient-facing website of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the peak body for specialist plastic surgeons in Australia. Its patient resources are designed to help you understand procedures, choose a surgeon, and know what to do if something goes wrong. The most useful sections for patients are Procedure Information, Find a Surgeon, and the patient safety and complaints pages.

Finding a surgeon

The site's central tool is the Find a Surgeon directory, which lets you search for an accredited Specialist Plastic Surgeon. ASPS states that only specialist plastic surgeons are accredited by the Commonwealth Government of Australia, through the Australian Medical Council, to perform all reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.

Supporting pages explain what that accreditation means:

  • What Does FRACS Mean? – explains the Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons qualification.
  • What Does Specialist Plastic Surgeon Mean? – distinguishes accredited specialists from other practitioners.
  • What Training Does an ASPS Member Have? – outlines the training pathway for ASPS members.
  • Is Your Surgeon an ASPS Member? – a check to run against any surgeon you are considering.

There is also a page titled How do you go about choosing the right plastic surgeon for you?, which walks through the decision process.

Procedure and decision-making information

  • Procedure Information – background on plastic surgery procedures.
  • Plastic Surgery Glossary – definitions of terms you will encounter.
  • Questions for Your Surgeon – a prepared list of questions to bring to a consultation, so you can compare answers across surgeons.

Patient safety, fees and complaints

  • Surgical Fees – information on how fees work.
  • Medicare and Procedure Cover – what Medicare does and does not cover.
  • Complaints Process – how to raise a concern.
  • Reporting complications arising from surgical tourism – a dedicated reporting route for complications following surgery overseas.
  • Cosmetic Tourism – guidance on the risks of travelling for surgery.

Breast device and implant topics

  • Breast Awareness and Breast Reconstruction Awareness.
  • Access your Breast Implant Registry (BIR) data and the Australian Breast Device Registry (ABDR).
  • BIA-ALCL, BIA-SCC, and other various cancers – information on breast implant-associated conditions.

Education, events and research

  • Plastic Surgery Congress (PSC) – the ASPS annual congress; the site promotes Surgery for Facial Aesthetics in Melbourne, 16–18 August 2024, with registration open.
  • AJOPS – Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery and Research Reports – National ASPS Research Tips.
  • News & Media Releases, Articles & Blogs, Podcast, and Videos & Q&As.

Contact and access

  • Phone: +61 2 9437 9200
  • Contact Us page
  • Member Log In and Trainee Log In for ASPS members and trainees (these are restricted areas, not patient resources)

How to use these resources

  1. Start with Find a Surgeon to build a shortlist of accredited specialists.
  2. Read What Does Specialist Plastic Surgeon Mean? and Is Your Surgeon an ASPS Member? so you understand what you are verifying.
  3. Print or save Questions for Your Surgeon and take it to each consultation.
  4. Check Surgical Fees and Medicare and Procedure Cover before committing, so you know what you will pay.
  5. If you are considering surgery overseas, read Cosmetic Tourism and note the complications reporting route first.

A practical limitation to keep in mind: the site provides general information and a directory, not individual medical advice. Use it to prepare questions and verify credentials, then discuss your specific situation with a surgeon you have checked.