UK Surgeon Qualifications
What are the usual qualifications for a surgeon who does cosmetic surgery in the UK?
Sources: The Royal College of Surgeons of England, General Medical Council
To qualify as doctors, all surgeons must first obtain a basic medical degree which includes the principles of medicine and surgery. The title of this first degree varies based on the university attended. Examples are MB or BM (which are Bachelor’s degrees in Medicine) and BChir, ChB or BS (which are Bachelor’s degrees in Surgery).
Surgeons can then go on to do several years of further training in surgical specialities. During this time they acquire a specific surgical qualification, such as MRCS (Membership of The Royal College of Surgeons) or, previously, FRCS (Fellowship of The Royal College of Surgeons). The letters after a surgeon’s name also depend on the college granting the qualification, eg FRCS or FRCS(Eng) indicates fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; FRCS(Ed) or FRCS(Glasg) indicate fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh or Glasgow. FRCSI indicates a Fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland.
Overseas-trained surgeons may have different letters after their name depending on the institutions in which they qualified. Before working as a surgeon in the UK, they must register with the General Medical Council and satisfy the UK authorities that their qualifications and experience are appropriate for the work they intend to undertake.
After completing basic surgical training, surgeons can specialise in particular areas of surgery. These include plastic surgery, ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery, and general surgery, among others.
Surgeons listed as specialists in plastic surgery on the General Medical Council’s (GMC) Specialist Register have, after qualifying as doctors, successfully completed specialist training in plastic surgery (usually for six years). Some plastic surgeons carry out aesthetic surgery (to improve appearance), whereas others specialise in areas such as reconstructive surgery for burns and accidents.
From the point of view of medical qualifications, it is useful to note that the term cosmetic surgery has a different meaning than the term plastic surgery. Surgery carried out simply to improve appearance is called cosmetic surgery, whereas plastic surgery deals more generally with surgery of the skin and soft tissues all over the body (e.g., such surgery may include reconstructive surgery for burns and accidents).
Cosmetic surgery can also be carried out by surgeons with qualifications in specialty areas other than plastic surgery. For example ear, nose and throat surgeons may carry out rhinoplasty (nose operations) and dermatologists may treat the skin.