Cosmetic or plastic surgeon? What the titles mean
The certificates on the wall don't always tell you. Here's what does, country by country.
6 min read · Updated 18 Oct 2026 · Surgeon Shortlist editorial teamA plastic surgeon has completed recognised specialist training and appears on an official specialist register. "Cosmetic surgeon" is not a protected specialist title in many countries, and the certificates on the wall do not always tell you which one you are looking at. Here is how to tell the difference.
The short answer
A plastic surgeon has completed years of accredited specialist training in plastic surgery and is recorded on an official specialist register. “Cosmetic surgeon” describes the kind of work someone does, and in most countries any doctor can use it.
Why the difference matters
Both may offer the same procedures. The difference is the training behind them. Specialist registration means a surgeon's training was supervised, examined and recognised by the bodies that oversee surgery in that country.
Country by country
| Country | Look for | Where |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Plastic surgery on the specialist register | GMC register Official |
| Australia | Specialist registration in surgery (plastic and reconstructive). The title “surgeon” is now restricted by law. | AHPRA register Official |
| United States | Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. “Board certified” alone can mean a different board. | ABPS Independent |
| Canada | Royal College certification in plastic surgery | Royal College directory Independent |
| New Zealand | Vocational scope in plastic and reconstructive surgery | Medical Council register Official |
How to check
Search the surgeon's name on the official register for their country and look for plastic surgery as their specialty. Or let us do it: we check the register and the professional bodies, and link every source.
What is the difference between a cosmetic surgeon and a plastic surgeon?
A plastic surgeon has completed recognised specialist training in plastic surgery and appears on an official specialist register or board. “Cosmetic surgeon” describes the work a doctor does and, in the UK and many other countries, is not a protected title. Australia is the exception: since 2023 only doctors with specialist surgical registration may use it.
Source: Royal College of Surgeons of England; Medical Board of AustraliaWhat is a specialist plastic surgeon?
A specialist plastic surgeon is a doctor who has completed accredited specialist training in plastic surgery and is recognised in that specialty by an official body. Examples are plastic surgery on the GMC specialist register in the UK, specialist registration with Ahpra in Australia, and certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in the US.
Source: General Medical Council; Ahpra; American Board of Plastic SurgerySources
- General Medical Council, the medical register Official
- Ahpra and the Medical Board of Australia, public register Official
- American Board of Plastic Surgery, certification lookup Independent
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, directory Independent