If you are looking for a plastic surgeon in Canada, it helps to know what certification means. Certified plastic surgeons complete a minimum of 5 years of training and pass Royal College examinations.
This page gives general information only.
This page explains how certification works and what the terms mean, as part of the overview of breast reconstruction in Canada. It gives general information only and does not recommend or rank any surgeon or clinic, and decisions about surgery and recovery belong with the reader’s own surgeon and care team.
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Certification | Not all practitioners in Canada are Certified Plastic Surgeons. |
| Training length | A minimum of 5 years of study and training in surgery. |
| Examination | Rigorous examinations are overseen by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. |
| FRCSC designation | Generally necessary in Canada before independent practice. |
| Checking a surgeon | Several organizations, including your provincial College, can help you confirm certification. |
Sources: Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons and a peer-reviewed study on Canadian plastic surgery graduates. This information can change, so check the sources for the latest details.
What the title means in Canada
According to the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, not all practitioners in Canada are certified plastic surgeons, and due diligence is recommended. The society describes a plastic surgeon in Canada as a surgical specialist who has received a medical degree, completed a minimum of 5 years of study and training in surgery, demonstrated successful completion of training, and passed a rigorous examination process overseen by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The surgeon has then been deemed qualified and certified to practise reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery.
The wording matters because certification is the check that separates a recognized specialist from a practitioner who has not completed that route. The explanation comes from the non profit professional society that represents the interests of plastic surgeons in Canada, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is named as the body overseeing the examination process. A reader who wants to understand the title can start with those two organizations and with the licensing college in their own province.
Understanding the title also helps when reading information from clinics or advertising. A statement that a practitioner is a specialist can be checked against the criteria above: the medical degree, the years of surgical training, the completed training and the Royal College examination process. This is a question to ask directly at a consultation, and a surgeon’s office can usually say how the practitioner meets each step.
The same society notes that plastic surgeons do more than cosmetic work. They also reconstruct or repair hand and facial injuries, large wounds including burns, skin defects from skin cancer, congenital deformities and breasts. In its description of the specialty, breast reconstruction and reduction are named among the reconstructive procedures Canadian plastic surgeons perform.
Training and the Royal College pathway
Training happens in residency programs approved by the Royal College. The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons says Canada’s plastic surgeons are medical doctors who have completed a minimum of 5 years of study and training in plastic surgery and passed the rigorous Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons certification examinations. A residency program at a university shows what that looks like in practice. McGill University describes the first two years of the five year Plastic Surgery residency as done via the Core Surgery Program, following which residents are trained for three years in Plastic Surgery.
The same McGill page says its program is directed toward the requirements for specialty certification by the Royal College and by the Collège des médecins du Québec, which shows how national and provincial bodies both play a part.
After training, successful candidates become Fellows of the Royal College, often written as FRCSC. A peer-reviewed study in a plastic surgery journal describes success on the Canadian fellowship examination as leading to obtainment of the FRCSC designation that is generally necessary in Canada before independent practice.
Provincial licensing and other routes
Certification is only one part. Doctors also need a licence from the provincial or territorial college that regulates medicine where they practise. The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons says its members include surgeons who were certified by their country of training’s national regulatory body and hold an active license, in good standing, with their Canadian provincial licensing authority. This shows that there is more than one route to practice, and that licensing in good standing is always part of the picture.
The society lists several organizations that can help the public confirm a practitioner’s status: the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Quebec Association of Specialists in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, the Canadian Society for Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Plastic Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and the provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons. Checking a surgeon’s standing with these organizations is a due diligence step that anyone can take, and it avoids relying on advertising or word of mouth alone.
Additional fellowship training
In a survey of recent Canadian plastic surgery graduates, the authors report that among those with permanent positions, 59 (86%) completed at least one fellowship. The same paper reports that microsurgery was the most common area of fellowship training among those who were fellowship-trained. Fellowship choices vary between surgeons, and they reflect personal interest and demand as much as any single standard.
Additional training does not replace certification, and it is not a ranking. A surgeon who has completed a fellowship has simply spent longer in training in one area, while a surgeon without one may have broad experience from residency and practice. Neither description says which person is right for a particular reader, and the care team is better placed to explain what suits an individual case, including the type of reconstruction under discussion and the surgeon’s usual approach. It is simply background that a person can ask about at a consultation, along with the surgeon’s experience with the specific type of reconstruction being discussed.
Working with a plastic surgeon on reconstruction
The Canadian Cancer Society explains that breast reconstruction is done by a plastic surgeon who is specially trained to do this surgery. It advises people to talk with the plastic surgeon about what they hope for from the surgery before deciding, and says the surgeon will discuss the different types and which will work best, based on factors such as overall health, earlier radiation therapy or chemotherapy, the tissue available, and personal preferences.
Practical questions can be raised at the same time. Cost is one, and the page on breast reconstruction coverage in Canada explains how public plans treat reconstruction. Timing is another, and the page on breast reconstruction wait times Canada covers what is known about access. Raising both at an early appointment helps the care team plan around the person’s situation.
People travelling or moving between regions can also check how their provincial or territorial college lists a surgeon’s status. Licensing is regulated province by province, so a surgeon who practises in one province holds a licence from that province’s college. Questions about transfers of care, or about seeing a surgeon in a different region, are best raised with the referring doctor, who knows the local arrangements and can explain how referrals are handled.
Useful topics for a first consultation include the surgeon’s certification and licensing, which approaches they offer, how many operations are likely, what follow-up looks like, and what a person can expect during recovery. Bringing a family member or friend, and writing down answers, can make the information easier to recall afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Are all surgeons who offer cosmetic procedures certified plastic surgeons?
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No. The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons says not all practitioners in Canada are certified plastic surgeons and recommends due diligence.
Who oversees plastic surgery certification?
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The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada oversees the examination process, and provincial colleges handle licensing to practise.
Does a reconstruction surgeon need extra training?
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Breast reconstruction is done by a specially trained plastic surgeon, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. Many graduates also complete a fellowship in an area such as microsurgery.
Who decides which surgeon to see?
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That is a personal decision made with the referring doctor and care team, who can explain what is available in a given region.
