Is your surgeon qualified to be called a Specialist Plastic Surgeon?

The term Plastic Surgery comes from the Greek word plastike (teckhne) or the art of modelling or sculpting.

Plastic Surgery on the Gold Coast is a growing industry for both men and women.  New techniques and advancement in the aesthetic industry has increased the number of men and women who want to undergo plastic surgery procedures. 

Dr.  Peter Widdowson, Director, at The Lotus Institute, on the Gold Coast, is a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon with over 25 years’ experience in this specialised area. 

All plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery is performed by our qualified Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Peter Widdowson who has extensive experience in cosmetic, plastic reconstructive and laser procedures.

Our Plastic Surgeons are members of a number of boards through their qualifications which include, Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, (ASPS) Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons  (ASAPS) , American Society of Plastic Surgeon, British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) and Fellow of Royal Society of Plastic Surgeons (FRACS). Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (SACS).

Cosmetic procedures also come under the name of Aesthetic surgery, including Facial Rejuvenation (Face lift) Neck and Eye Lifts – including The Lotus Institute’s M.I.F.A.C.E procedure.

Our Plastic and Reconstructive surgeons perform an array of other procedures including Breast Enlargement, Breast Reduction, Breast Lift and Reconstruction, Otoplasty, Body contouring – Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), liposuction and body lift.

KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PLASTIC SURGEON AND COSMETIC SURGEON

Plastic surgery training involves a broad scope of procedures to restore the body’s normal appearance and function, where cosmetic surgery training focuses exclusively on aesthetic procedures. Yet many plastic surgeons offer cosmetic procedures at their practice.

Plastic Surgeons qualify in:

• Medical training
• Surgical qualifications and recognition by medical boards
• Surgery specialities (skills, expertise, and surgical study)
• Technical expertise (ongoing education and advanced surgical technique conferences with leading plastic surgery experts)
• Significant experience

Currently in Australia, it is legal for any doctor with a basic medical degree to perform surgery. However, only Specialist Plastic Surgeons have a minimum of 12 years medical and surgical education, including 5 years of specialist post graduate training in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

When making your decision in selecting your surgeon, remember that the Medical Board of Australia states that the “Specialist Plastic Surgeon” title can only be used by Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) approved specialist surgeons in the recognised specialty of Plastic Surgery.

There are many misunderstandings about plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons and their roles, with many patients mistakenly believing they are equivalent when they are not. Many plastic surgeons choose to focus on cosmetic surgery, which has led to the terms often being used interchangeably, but this is technically incorrect.

There are also medical practitioners in Australia, such as GPs, who legally call themselves cosmetic surgeons. However, many of the procedures they perform should only be done by a certified plastic surgeon. These misperceptions regarding the industry highlight the need for more patient education on the importance of credentials.

Dr. Peter Widdowson (Plastic Surgeon) here at The Lotus Institute on the Gold Coast are here to help you with answers to these misperceptions and will guide you through your surgical or aesthetic journey.

Please Call The Lotus Institute on the Gold Coast for your Plastic Surgery Consultation and Non-Surgical Consultations on (07) 55094488.

For qualifications of Dr. Peter Widdowson please click on the following link:

https://www.lotus-institute.com.au/team/dr-peter-widdowson/