Checking a plastic surgeon in Italy
In Italy, a plastic surgeon should hold a specialisation in Chirurgia plastica, ricostruttiva ed estetica on the Ordine dei Medici albo. Here's where to check it and what to look for.
We read part of the official register directly. Last checked 18 October 2026What the titles mean in Italy
Every doctor in Italy is registered with their provincial Ordine dei Medici, and the albi are combined nationally by FNOMCeO. The law requires the albo to record specialisations, but older records, especially for senior academics, are not always complete. 'Medicina estetica' is not a specialisation.
The national Albo Unico is captcha-protected, so we read the provincial albi directly for 18 provinces, including Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin and Palermo. Where the albo doesn't show a specialisation we also look at university teaching posts, SICPRE and AICPE.
What we check for Italian surgeons
Society membership is voluntary. Not being a member doesn't mean a surgeon isn't qualified.
How to check it yourself
- Search the surgeon's surname on the FNOMCeO Albo Unico, adding the province if you know it. FNOMCeO Albo Unico
- Open the record and look for 'Chirurgia plastica' under specialisations.
- If nothing is listed, check the provincial Ordine's own albo, which may be more complete.
Common questions
Why might a well-known surgeon show no specialisation?
Specialisations are recorded by each provincial Ordine and older records aren't always updated. FNOMCeO itself warns the national albo can differ from the provincial ones.
Source: FNOMCeOIs 'medicina estetica' a specialisation in Italy?
No. It isn't a recognised specialisation; cosmetic surgery is part of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
Source: FNOMCeOI'm considering surgery abroad. What should I check?
The same principle applies everywhere: find the official register in that country and look for specialist registration in plastic surgery. See every country we cover