Choosing a Plastic Surgeon

A Canadian plastic surgeon is a well-trained medical doctor who has further qualified as a specialist and passed the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons examinations to be certified to practice Plastic Surgery. The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery are the Canadian organizations to which practicing plastic surgeons belong.

Okanagan Plastic Surgeons' Biographies:

Dr. Brian Peterson		Dr. Scott Williamson		Dr. Stan Valnicek		Dr. David Williamson		Dr. Brian Miller		Dr. Bill East

Choosing a Plastic/Cosmetic Surgeon

As the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons states:

There is no foolproof way to choose a plastic surgeon or to guarantee your results.
However, there are a few basics which can help you to decide:

1. Find out if your prospective surgeon is a member of the Canadian Society of
Plastic Surgeons. To be a member of this society guarantees that your surgeon
has the proper training required to perform Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

2. Check with your provincial college of physicians and surgeons to see whether the
surgeon is licensed and whether disciplinary action has been taken against
him/her.

3. Verify credentials and training. Many cosmetic surgeons advertise they are
"board-certified." But requirements vary greatly depending on which professional
board is cited. In Canada, only the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
certifies physicians and surgeons in medical specialties (www.rcpsc.medical.org).

4. Ask the surgeon how often he or she performs the procedure you want and what
the complication rates are.

5. Ask surgeons whether they have hospital admitting privileges in case of
complications after surgery. Call the hospital to verify the information. If the doctor
has an in-office operating suite, ask if it is certified.

6. Ask family physicians or other doctors knowledgeable about the local medical
community what their opinion of your prospective surgeon is. Also, get a checkup
from your family doctor to see if you have any health problems that might make
cosmetic surgery risky.

7. Canadian physicians and surgeons carry medical malpractice insurance through
the Canadian Medical Protective Association.

8. Don't feel pressured to agree to more procedures than you want, regardless of
the price.

9. Be wary of the surgeon who "guarantees" satisfaction or minimizes the risks or
recovery time involved.

10. Ask if the person giving the anesthesia is properly certified.

11. Read the patient consent form carefully before signing it. Ask what steps the
surgeon will take if complications occur or further surgery is needed and what type
of follow-up care will be given. Be thorough when discussing your expectations with
your doctor. Proper communication before surgery tends to result in greater
satisfaction.

12. Most importantly, feel comfortable with the surgeon you have selected.
Hopefully you will not have a complication and things will run smoothly. However,
should you have a complication, you want to know that this surgeon will pay close
attention to you to see you through it. You might want to ask your prospective
surgeon what he/she would do if you suffered one of the complications they
describe when they talk about the surgery. If they do not even mention
complications, you might want to take a closer look.

We want to take the time to understand your needs, discuss the benefits, inform you of the alternatives and review the risks and potential complications. In short, we are here to help you make the best choice for your health.

To book a consultation please call us at 250.860.4302, toll-free 1.877.462.6763, or request an appointment booking online: