# How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon: Safety Criteria Objective criteria for assessing any plastic surgeon: license, specialist registration, societies, procedure experience, hospital, anesthesia and consent. [Dr. Walter Zamarian Jr.](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/walter-zamarian/) · CRM-PR 17.388 · RQE 15.688 Published February 19, 2026 · Updated October 24, 2026 Topics: [Planning your facelift](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/blog/category/planning-your-facelift/) [Read the article ↓](#leitura) ## At a glance: how do you choose a plastic surgeon safely? Start with the registration: if you are considering surgery in Brazil, use the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) official search to confirm an active medical license (CRM) and a specialist registration (RQE) in plastic surgery. Then ask about experience with your procedure, the hospital, anesthesia, risks, alternatives and follow-up. Society membership adds context but does not replace the RQE. - Registration: active CRM and RQE in plastic surgery, checked on the CFM website. - Societies: SBCP and ASPS membership is useful extra information, also verifiable. - Experience: ask how often the surgeon performs the procedure you are considering. - Setting: the hospital, the anesthesiologist and a plan for the unexpected are part of your safety. - Conversation: risks, limits and alternatives explained clearly, with no pressure to decide. - Warning signs: promised results, pressure to book and a recovery “the same for everyone.” On my [Dr. Walter Zamarian Jr.](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/walter-zamarian/) page, I describe my training, including three years with Professor Ivo Pitanguy, and how I work; the short video below sums it up. In this article, I set my own background aside and bring together criteria you can use to assess any plastic surgeon, whether you see me or another colleague. My training, from medical school in Londrina to three years with Professor Ivo Pitanguy (1-minute video, in Portuguese). ## Check the medical license and specialist registration In Brazil, the CRM shows 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 the core criterion, and both can be checked in the [CFM physician search](https://portal.cfm.org.br/busca-medicos/). Phrases such as “aesthetics specialist,” “advanced facial harmonization” or “facial procedures” do not replace that registration. According to the CFM, only specialist titles issued by the Brazilian Medical Association (AMB) or the National Medical Residency Commission (CNRM) count toward the RQE [1]. A course with a similar-sounding name does not prove the specialty. ## Treat society membership as a complement Membership in the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP), or International Member status with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), is additional information you can check with the societies themselves. It does not replace the RQE. My own registrations and titles, with links to the official sources, are on my [credentials page](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/credentials/). ## Look at experience with your specific procedure Plastic surgery is a broad field, and each surgeon focuses their practice on certain areas. Beyond confirming the specialty, find out whether the surgeon performs the procedure you are considering on a regular basis. Ask about the indication, technique, limits, recovery, risks and alternatives: a thoughtful answer usually includes nuance rather than stock phrases. If your interest is the face, my article on [how to choose a facelift surgeon in Brazil](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/blog/how-to-choose-a-facelift-surgeon-in-brazil/) offers more specific questions. ## Ask where the surgery will take place Surgery should take place in a setting suited to the size of the procedure, with what is needed for anesthesia, monitoring, sterilization, recovery and the management of unexpected events. Be wary when the conversation skips over the facility, tests, anesthetic risk or what happens if something does not go as planned. The ASPS also lists the facility where the procedure will be performed among the choices that matter for patient safety [3]. I operate at Hospital do Coração Bela Suíça, in Londrina. ## Ask about anesthesia and the team 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 and TIVA](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/blog/facelift-anesthesia-understanding-general-anesthesia-and-tiva/) explains the main points. ## Expect a clear conversation about risks Every procedure carries risks: hematoma, infection, changes in sensation, unfavorable scarring, asymmetry, thrombosis, anesthetic complications and the need for another operation, depending on the case. When a consultation downplays risks or promises an easy recovery for everyone, treat it as a warning sign. ## Take your time with the consent form The consent form records that you received information about the procedure, the alternatives, the risks, the limits, the scars and follow-up. It should complement a clear conversation, not replace it. Elective surgery should not depend on haste: ask for time to read, ask questions and decide. ## Be wary of promises and aggressive marketing Promises of risk-free transformation, a recovery that is the same for everyone, scars that disappear or a standardized result do not fit good medical practice. Before-and-after photos can be distorted by lighting, angle, pose and case selection. At a consultation, images can help explain possibilities and limits, but they are not a promise for your case. ## Notice whether your expectations are discussed A surgeon should understand what bothers you and also tell you whether surgery can actually address it. Sometimes the right advice is to adjust the expectation, wait or not operate. My article on [realistic expectations in plastic surgery](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/blog/plastic-surgery-realistic-expectations/) goes deeper into this. ## Consider a second opinion A second opinion is legitimate, especially for complex surgery, revisions or doubts about the indication. A well-informed decision is good for you and for the surgeon who will operate. ## Frequently asked questions How can I check a plastic surgeon’s registration in Brazil? In the CFM physician search, look up the surgeon’s name or CRM number and check that the registration is active and that there is an RQE in plastic surgery. Does society membership replace the RQE? No. Membership in the SBCP or the ASPS is complementary information. The specialist registration is the RQE. 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 registration, a clear rationale for the recommended procedure and an honest explanation of risks tell you more. What should I ask during the consultation? Ask how often the surgeon performs the procedure, where the surgery will take place, who will provide the anesthesia, 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. It is legitimate, particularly for complex procedures or revisions. ## Let’s talk about your case If you would like to get to know how I work, [write to us on WhatsApp](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/contact/): Bruna, my AI assistant, handles the first contact and then puts you in touch with Isanna to arrange a consultation with me. Bring your questions; I answer each one before any decision. ## References - Conselho Federal de Medicina. [Comissão Mista de Especialidade – CME](https://portal.cfm.org.br/?page_id=156910) (in Portuguese). - Conselho Federal de Medicina. [Busca por médicos](https://portal.cfm.org.br/busca-medicos/) (physician search, in Portuguese). - American Society of Plastic Surgeons. [Patient Safety](https://www.plasticsurgery.org/patient-safety). ## About the author I am Dr. Walter Zamarian Jr., a plastic surgeon in Londrina, Brazil. My practice focuses on deep plane facelift surgery with fat grafting. Here I explain my approach, the available evidence, and the limits of each treatment. CRM-PR 17.388 · RQE 15.688 [Read about my training and practice →](https://www.walterzamarianjr.com/us/walter-zamarian/) This article provides general information and does not replace an individual medical consultation. 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