WHAT DO ALL THOSE QUALIFIATIONS MEAN?
Mr Baljit Dheansa a consultant plastic surgeon at McIndoe Surgical Centre sheds some light on the myriad of qualifications that you should be aware of when researching a surgeon for your procedure.
There are many different types of doctor and healthcare professional involved in the provision of cosmetic surgery. They all profess to have lots of different types of qualifications which are attest to their abilities. However, very often, we are not quite sure of what they mean. Here are a few important qualifications that truly reflect good training and a high level of achievement.
MBBS – This is the basic qualification that all doctors should have. Certain British Universities have a slightly different nomenclature.
FRCS – This is the basic qualification that every surgeon should have to reflect their training in general surgery. This is a qualification that can only be gained through having performed appropriate surgical posts and then passed a 2 part exam. More recently this qualification has changed to MRCS and involves a 3 part exam.
FRCS(Plast) – This qualification is a surgical exam in plastic surgery and can only be taken by those who have demonstrated an appropriate level of training in plastic surgery. This exam tests all aspects of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic / cosmetic surgery. This exam is taken by those people who are just about to become consultant plastic surgeons.
BAPRAS – This is an organisation for members of the plastic surgery community. One can only be a member of it on the recommendation of other plastic surgeons and is peer reviewed. Only those who are plastic surgeons of good standing can be members.
BAAPS – This is an organisation similar to BAPRAS, but is specifically for those for the field of aesthetic surgery. Many people will be members of either BAPRAS or BAAPS and some may be members of both, although this is often a personal choice.
GMC Register – There is a specific category within the GMC register for doctors who have appropriate qualifications and training in plastic surgery. These people will have had good training and be practising plastic surgery. They will often have all the above qualifications / memberships. Therefore the presence of a doctor on the GMC Register for plastic surgery is a good guide of the excellent training that they are likely to have had.
Although there are many other qualifications and memberships of organisations, there are few that are nationally recognised by the GMC and the Department of Health. It is important to ask your surgeon / practitioner if they have some of these qualifications and to explain some of the lesser known ones to help in working out their experience and training.
If you would like any further information on the qualifications of any of our surgeons at McIndoe Surgical Centre please contact us on 0800 917 4922 or visit the website at www.mcindoesurgical.co.uk where the surgeons profiles will help with your research.