Nothing in medicine can be guaranteed. Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon does, however, mean choosing someone who has completed a long and verifiable training pathway. Here is what that involves, what the law requires and how to check it for yourself.
How a plastic surgeon is trained
A medical degree. It may seem obvious, but this is the first requirement — and it is worth checking.
Passing the national medical residency examination, which gives access to a university-accredited specialty program. In my case, the university was UNAM.
Two to four years of general surgery training. This covers the foundations of surgery: caring for patients before and after an operation and managing complications that can arise in any procedure.
A further three to four years of residency in plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. During this training, we work with surgeons in cosmetic practice while also performing reconstructive surgery in public hospitals, preparing us to manage complex cases.
Board certification. After training, the surgeon takes the examination of the Consejo Mexicano de Cirugía Plástica, Estética y Reconstructiva and must renew that certification periodically.
Additional training abroad for some surgeons. In my case, this was in cosmetic surgery with Dr. Giovanni Botti at Villa Bella Clinic in Salò, Italy.
What the law requires
Mexico's General Health Law requires a specialist license and current specialty-board certification to perform plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. COFEPRIS has also clarified that a master's degree in aesthetic surgery does not meet this requirement, and that the recognized board for this specialty is the Consejo Mexicano de Cirugía Plástica, Estética y Reconstructiva.
How to check your surgeon's credentials
Before surgery, you can check two things:
The surgeon's specialist license, in the Secretaría de Educación Pública's National Registry of Professionals. The specialty should be plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.
Current certification with the Consejo Mexicano de Cirugía Plástica, Estética y Reconstructiva.
Also consider where the surgeon operates — always in a hospital — real patient testimonials, and how the procedure is explained. Price and social media followers say little; training matters most.
Medical license 6382975 · Specialist license 9940975