# How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon: 10 Safety Criteria > Ten practical criteria for choosing a plastic surgeon, including verifying CRM and RQE registration in Brazil, procedure experience, facility, anesthesia, risks, consent, and second opinions. - Author and medical reviewer: Dr. Walter Zamarian Jr. — CRM-PR 17.388 | RQE 15.688 - Published: 2026-02-19 - Updated: 2026-10-24 - Language: en - Canonical HTML page: https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/blog/how-to-choose-plastic-surgeon-criteria/ - Topics: geral **At a glance:** If you are considering surgery in Brazil, check the [Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) official physician registry](https://portal.cfm.org.br/busca-medicos/) to confirm an active medical license (CRM) and a registered specialist qualification (RQE) in plastic surgery. Then ask about experience with your specific procedure, the hospital, the anesthesiologist, risks, alternatives, and follow-up. Membership in medical societies adds useful context but does not replace specialist registration. Ask for time to read the consent form and decide. Follower counts, selected photos, and promised results do not prove qualification or safety. Choosing a surgeon is one of the most important decisions in plastic surgery. Technique, a correct indication, patient safety, anesthesia, the hospital, informed consent, and postoperative care all depend directly on the surgeon’s training and conduct. In other words, choosing a plastic surgeon is not a marketing question; it is a safety question. The answer comes from official records, recognized training, an appropriate surgical setting, medical ethics, and a transparent conversation about what surgery can and cannot deliver. That matters even more when you are traveling from another country for surgery. I have performed more than 8,000 operations over two decades, and today, by deliberate choice, I perform about three facelifts per week (roughly 150 a year). I believe a good consultation should help you decide with information, not on impulse. ## 1. Verify the medical license and specialist registration In Brazil, the CRM confirms that a physician is registered with the Regional Council of Medicine. The RQE, or Specialist Qualification Registration, shows that the physician holds a recognized specialty. For plastic surgery, an RQE in plastic surgery is a core criterion. Generic phrases such as “aesthetics specialist,” “advanced facial harmonization,” or “facial procedures” are not enough. Confirm the registration with the medical council and, when possible, also check the listing of the [Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP)](https://www.cirurgiaplastica.org.br/). ## 2. Confirm training in plastic surgery Training in plastic surgery requires specific preparation to evaluate patients, operate, and manage complications. For specialist registration, the [CFM recognizes specialist titles obtained through a medical residency accredited by the National Medical Residency Commission (CNRM) or through a specialist title from the Brazilian Medical Association (AMB)](https://portal.cfm.org.br/?page_id=156910). Check the RQE in addition to the résumé; a course with a similar-sounding name does not prove that registration. In my case, alongside my medical training and RQE 15.688, my background includes more than two decades in plastic surgery, membership in the SBCP and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), and a focus on facial procedures such as the [deep plane facelift](https://deepplanefaceliftbrazil.com/) and [blepharoplasty](https://deepplanefaceliftbrazil.com/surgery/blepharoplasty/). My medical school training, my three years with Professor Ivo Pitanguy, and my other qualifications are summarized on my [credentials page](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/credentials/). ## 3. Look at experience with your specific procedure Plastic surgery is a broad field. A surgeon may have extensive experience in one area and lower volume in another. Beyond confirming that someone is a plastic surgeon, try to understand whether they perform the procedure you are considering on a regular basis. Facelift, eyelid surgery, breast surgery, abdominoplasty, and intimate surgery each involve different reasoning. Ask about the indication, technique, limitations, recovery, risks, and alternatives. A mature answer usually includes nuance rather than stock phrases. ## 4. Evaluate where the surgery will take place Surgery should take place in a setting suited to the size of the procedure, with the structure needed for anesthesia, monitoring, sterilization, recovery, and the management of unexpected events. For larger procedures, the hospital and the support team are part of your safety. Be wary when the conversation ignores the facility, tests, anesthetic risk, or a contingency plan. Where the surgery happens is not an operational detail; it is part of the treatment. ## 5. Ask about anesthesia and the team Anesthesia should not be treated as a secondary topic. You need to know who the anesthesiologist will be, which type of anesthesia is recommended, which tests are required, and how you will be monitored. My article on [facelift anesthesia, general anesthesia, and TIVA](https://deepplanefaceliftbrazil.com/blog/facelift-anesthesia-understanding-general-anesthesia-and-tiva/) explains the main safety points. In my practice, the anesthetic decision is individualized with a specialized team. The procedure, operating time, your health, medications, test results, and medical history all need to be considered. ## 6. Expect a clear conversation about risks Every procedure carries risk. Hematoma, infection, seroma, changes in sensation, unfavorable scarring, asymmetry, thrombosis, the need for revision, and anesthetic complications should be discussed according to the case. When a consultation minimizes risks or promises an easy recovery for everyone, treat it as a warning sign. Safety starts with a correct indication and honest information. ## 7. Read the consent form carefully A consent form should not be an empty formality. It records that you received information about the procedure, alternatives, risks, limitations, care, scarring, and the need for follow-up. Ideally, the document complements a clear conversation rather than replacing it. A good decision process allows time to understand, ask questions, and reflect. Elective plastic surgery should not depend on haste. ## 8. Be wary of promises and aggressive marketing Promises of risk-free transformation, identical recovery for everyone, scars that disappear, or standardized results are not compatible with good medical practice. Every body responds differently, and surgery has to respect anatomy, health, skin, healing, and expectations. Public use of before-and-after photos as commercial proof also calls for ethical care. Lighting, angle, pose, and case selection can distort perception. In a consultation, images can help explain possibilities and limits, but they should not become an individual promise. ## 9. Notice whether your expectations are addressed A surgeon should understand what bothers you, and also assess whether surgery can actually address that concern. Not every aesthetic dissatisfaction has a surgical solution. Sometimes the best advice is to adjust expectations, recommend another treatment, postpone, or not operate at all. Working through expectations reduces disappointment and makes the decision safer. ## 10. Consider a second opinion A second opinion is legitimate, especially for complex surgery, revisions, doubts about the indication, or uncertainty about the proposed plan. A confident surgeon should not be bothered by a well-informed decision. You can also research the surgeon’s background, résumé, publications, society memberships, care structure, and institutional presence. My [profile page](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/walter-zamarian/) brings together information about my training, practice, and credentials. ## Frequently asked questions ### How can I check a plastic surgeon’s registration in Brazil? Use the CFM’s official physician search to confirm an active CRM and an RQE in plastic surgery. Society membership, such as in the SBCP, can complement that information but does not replace specialist registration. ### Is a large social media following a sign of a good surgeon? No. Follower counts, selected photos, and promised results do not prove qualification or safety. Verifiable credentials, a coherent indication, and an honest explanation of risks matter far more. ### What should I ask during the consultation? Ask about experience with your specific procedure, where the surgery will take place, who the anesthesiologist will be, which risks apply to your case, what the alternatives are, and how follow-up will work. ### Is it acceptable to ask for a second opinion? Yes. A second opinion is legitimate, particularly for complex procedures or revisions, and a confident surgeon should respect a well-informed decision. ## Official sources and further reading To verify information, consult the [Federal Council of Medicine (CFM)](https://portal.cfm.org.br/), the Regional Council of Medicine for the state where the surgeon practices, the [Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery](https://www.cirurgiaplastica.org.br/), the [American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ patient safety resources](https://www.plasticsurgery.org/patient-safety), and the [American College of Surgeons’ guidance on preparing for surgery](https://www.facs.org/for-patients/preparing-for-surgery/). The best choice combines verifiable credentials, a coherent indication, an honest explanation, an appropriate surgical setting, and a doctor-patient relationship built on technical trust. --- Medical information for educational purposes. Suitability, risks and treatment planning require an individual consultation.