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In Australia, the term surgeon is not restricted to those with specialist qualifications, which is part of why patients are encouraged to check credentials carefully before proceeding with cosmetic surgery. Specialist registration through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency indicates that a practitioner has completed recognised specialist training in their field.
FRACS and Scope of Practice
FRACS stands for Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, and it reflects years of specialist surgical training beyond a medical degree. Dr Flood is a FRACS-qualified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, and patients are encouraged to ask any practitioner they are considering whether they hold this or an equivalent specialist qualification, and in which area they trained.
Questions to Ask Before Cosmetic Surgery
Useful questions to raise before deciding include:
- What specialist qualifications do you hold, and in which area did you train?
- How many times have you performed the specific procedure I am considering?
- What is the realistic range of outcomes and risks for my particular case?
- What does the cooling-off and consent process involve?
- What is your approach to complications, should they arise?
- If revision surgery is needed later, how is that handled?
- How does the practice support patients through recovery?
You are also entitled to ask about the surgeon’s approach to complications and revision surgery, should they be needed, and how the practice supports you through recovery.
Red Flags in Advertising and Consult Process
Cosmetic surgery advertising in Australia is governed by AHPRA guidelines, and understanding these rules can help you recognise when a practice is not operating within them. Under current guidelines, advertising should not use patient testimonials or reviews to promote cosmetic surgery, should not create unrealistic expectations of what a procedure can achieve, and should not use high-pressure sales tactics, time-limited discounts, or emotionally manipulative messaging to encourage a quick decision.
A small number of practices operate outside these expectations, and it is worth being alert to certain patterns during your research and consultation process. Signs worth treating with caution include:
- Discouraging the cooling off period. Cosmetic surgery in Australia involves a mandatory cooling off period between consultation and surgery. A practice that rushes you past this, or frames it as an inconvenience rather than a protection, is not acting in your interest.
- Vague or minimised risk discussion. A surgeon should be willing to walk through risks specific to your case in plain language. If risks are glossed over, downplayed, or only mentioned briefly at the end of a sales-style consultation, that is worth questioning.
- Rushed or scripted consultations. A genuine consultation should feel like a two-way conversation about your anatomy, goals, and suitability, not a fixed presentation moving quickly toward booking surgery.
- Heavy reliance on before and after imagery without context. Case imagery should be accompanied by information such as time since surgery and a note that results vary between patients, in line with advertising rules.
- Pressure around finance options or limited time offers. Cosmetic surgery is a medical decision, and any messaging that treats it like a retail promotion is a signal to slow down and ask more questions.
If you notice several of these patterns together, it is reasonable to seek a second opinion from another specialist before proceeding.
How to Compare Recovery, Risks, and Suitability
Choosing a surgeon on price alone can make it harder to compare what actually matters: whether a procedure is likely to be safe, suitable, and well supported for your specific situation. A more useful comparison looks at how each surgeon communicates around three areas.
Recovery. Ask each surgeon to describe, in specific terms, what recovery would look like for your case, including expected downtime, follow-up appointments, and how complications would be managed if they arose. A surgeon who gives a considered, individualised answer is generally a better sign than one who gives a generic timeframe that could apply to any patient.
Risks. Every surgical procedure carries risk, and a specialist surgeon should be willing to discuss these openly rather than minimise them. Pay attention to whether risks are explained in the context of your own anatomy and health history, or delivered as a standard list read out during consultation.
Suitability. Perhaps most importantly, a surgeon who is being straightforward with you will sometimes tell you that you are not a suitable candidate for a procedure, or that a different approach would serve you better. Being told only what you want to hear is not the same as being given the information you need to make a genuinely informed decision.
Comparing practitioners on these three areas, alongside their specialist qualifications, tends to give a clearer picture of the quality of care on offer than comparing quoted prices alone.
Next Steps
If you are early in the process of deciding on cosmetic or reconstructive surgery, a consultation with a specialist plastic surgeon is a reasonable next step, alongside independent reading through resources such as the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
You can explore Dr Flood’s full range of procedures, including facial procedures, to understand the options available.
Book a Consultation for Specialist, Risk-Aware Advice
If you want specialist, risk-aware advice before deciding on surgery, contact Dr John Flood’s practice to book a consultation.
