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To choose a plastic surgeon safely, check three things in order. First, that the doctor is a fully trained specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, not a doctor from another field who also offers cosmetic procedures. Second, that the operation will take place in a licensed facility with an anaesthetist and the means to manage complications. Third, that you meet the surgeon who will operate, and that you leave the consultation with clear, unhurried answers.
Additional qualifications, such as the EBOPRAS examination of the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, and membership of recognised professional societies are useful independent checks on top of that. Social media following, glossy photos and a low quote are not.
None of this guarantees a particular result. Surgery always carries risk, and outcomes depend on your anatomy and healing as much as on the surgeon. What careful checking does is remove avoidable risks before you start.
Start with the specialist title
In most countries, any licensed doctor can legally call themselves a “cosmetic” or “aesthetic” doctor. The protected title is the specialist one. In Turkey and across Europe, a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery has completed several years of supervised surgical training after medical school, followed by a specialty examination. That training covers reconstruction after injury and cancer, hand surgery, burns and microsurgery as well as aesthetic work, which is what gives a surgeon a feel for tissue, blood supply and wound healing.
Ask directly: “What is your specialist title, and where did you complete your training?” A clear answer takes seconds. If the answer is vague, or the training was in another specialty, that is worth knowing before you go any further.
Independent qualifications: what EBOPRAS means
EBOPRAS is the qualification of the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. It is a voluntary examination, taken in addition to the national specialist title, that tests knowledge and clinical judgement against a shared European standard. It is not required to practise, so many good surgeons do not hold it. When a surgeon does, it is a check made by an independent board rather than by the surgeon’s own marketing.
A licence to practise in another country, such as the German medical licence (Approbation), is a different kind of document. It shows that a medical authority in that country has assessed and accepted the doctor’s medical qualifications.
Professional memberships
Membership of a recognised plastic surgery society usually requires proof of specialist training and agreement to a code of conduct. Examples include ISAPS (the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) and, in Turkey, EPCD and TPRECD, the national societies for aesthetic and for plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
Memberships tell you that a surgeon belongs to the professional community and is expected to keep up with it. They are not a ranking. A surgeon with five logos is not automatically better than one with two.
The facility matters as much as the surgeon
Ask where the operation will take place, who will give the anaesthetic and where you will spend the first night. Larger operations, such as a facelift, a tummy tuck or combined procedures, belong in a hospital with an anaesthetist, a recovery area and staff who can respond if something goes wrong at night.
If you are travelling to Turkey for surgery, ask whether the practice holds the Ministry of Health’s International Health Tourism Authorisation. It is granted to facilities that meet the Ministry’s requirements for treating international patients, and you can ask to see it.
Questions to ask at consultation
- Will you perform the whole operation yourself?
- Which technique do you suggest for me, and why that one rather than the alternatives?
- What can this operation realistically not change in my case?
- What are the most likely risks for me, and how are complications handled?
- How long will I need to stay, and who looks after me after I return home?
- What happens if I am not satisfied, or if a correction is needed?
A good consultation includes an examination, an honest discussion of limits and a written plan. You should not feel rushed or pressured to book on the day.
Reassuring signs and warning signs
| Reassuring | Worth questioning |
|---|---|
| You meet and are examined by the operating surgeon | You only speak to a coordinator or salesperson |
| Risks and limits are discussed openly | Results are promised or described as risk-free |
| The plan is tailored to your anatomy | The same package is offered to everyone |
| Time to think is encouraged | Discounts that expire if you do not book today |
| A clear aftercare and follow-up plan | Vague answers about who sees you after surgery |
If you are travelling for surgery
Plan enough time in the city for the early checks. For most facial operations that is seven to ten days, and stitches or splints are removed before you fly. Ask how follow-up continues once you are home: photos, video calls, and what to do if a problem appears weeks later. Being able to talk with your surgeon in a language you are comfortable in also makes a real difference, both at consultation and during recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Is a “cosmetic surgeon” the same as a plastic surgeon?
Not necessarily. “Cosmetic surgeon” is not a protected specialist title in many countries. Ask for the formal specialist title and where the surgeon trained.
Should price decide my choice?
Price alone is a poor guide. A plan that leaves out the hospital stay, the anaesthetist or follow-up visits may look cheaper but carries more risk. Compare what is included, not just the total.
What if I need a correction of an earlier operation?
Secondary surgery, such as revision rhinoplasty or a revision facelift, is more complex than a first operation because of scar tissue and altered anatomy. In most cases it is planned at least twelve months after the first surgery. Ask how often the surgeon performs secondary procedures and how they assess them.
Are online reviews reliable?
They can show how a practice communicates, but they say little about surgical judgement. Use them alongside the checks above, not instead of them.
A consultation in Bakırköy
Dr. Mehmet Özdemir is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon holding the EBOPRAS qualification and the German medical licence (Approbation). He graduated from the English-language programme of Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, trained in Germany, Poland and Brazil, is a member of ISAPS, EPCD and TPRECD and a faculty member at Atlas University Hospital. His practice in Ataköy Towers, Bakırköy, Istanbul, holds the Ministry of Health’s International Health Tourism Authorisation. If you would like to ask these questions in person, in Turkish, English or German, you are welcome to book a consultation.
