Dr Tim Brown & Dr Niro Sivathasan - 'Plastic Surgery vs Cosmetic Surgery - exploring the current crisis in Australia' #147

Nov 11, 2021

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Episode 147 hosts Dr Tim Brown (Plastic Surgeon based in Melbourne) and Dr Niro Sivathasan (Cosmetic Surgeon based in Sydney).

We invited these two surgeons from different backgrounds to discuss the current crisis in the Australian cosmetic surgery industry.

For some context to this podcast, it's currently legal for any doctor who holds a medical license to practice and perform cosmetic surgery - regardless of their medical expertise or experience. This unusual loophole can be exploited because there is no formal pathway for any doctor to train in cosmetic procedures.

For many years, there's been an uncomfortable and sometimes volatile relationship between plastic surgeons and other doctors who practice cosmetic surgery - who are collectively known under the umbrella term 'cosmetic surgeons'. This label covers a wide spectrum of doctors, all the way from first year graduates with no formal training through to highly respected and experienced cosmetic surgeons with 25+ years experience.

Just a fortnight ago, a national TV programme called 'Four Corners' re-ignited this debate with alleged unsafe and poor standards from a prominent and well known cosmetic surgeon. This is the crux of the issue that plastic surgeons and the public have increasingly voiced.

We discuss the entire breadth of the issue including:

- The difference between a plastic surgeon & a cosmetic surgeon and how their training differs

- How both groups of surgeons gain experience in cosmetic surgery and the format of their particular colleges who represent them

- The perceived 'turf war' that exists between these two groups

- The distinct lack of formal regulation and why this situation has continued for so long

- How the complications of medical procedure are inevitable and why the context of these is so important when judging if the surgery was 'good' or 'bad'

- The role of patients in this equation including

what questions they might want to ask a surgeon to understand their credentials
their understanding of risk and the importance of doing their own research before committing to a surgical procedure

- If there can be a solution to the turf war?

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