| Canadians who are seeking cosmetic procedures | | | | Society of Plastic Surgeon or the Canadian |
| often wonder if these procedures are safe. While | | | | Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery to find out if |
| Canada has a rich history of great plastic | | | | the physician you are considering is qualified. |
| surgeons, this type of voluntary surgery always | | | | Another way to ensure that the procedure you |
| brings questions. If you are considering having a | | | | will be receiving is safe and monitored is to look |
| procedure done in Canada, here is some | | | | for a doctor that performs at a center that is |
| important information you should know. | | | | accredited by the Canadian Association for |
| History of Canadian Plastic Surgery | | | | Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities. This |
| Canadian plastic surgery has a rich history dating | | | | organization is made up of certified plastic |
| back to before World War I. Dr. E. Fulton Risdon | | | | surgeons who have chosen to allow their fellow |
| was practicing plastic surgery in the early 1900s, | | | | plastic surgeons to inspect their surgery centers. |
| an era when physicians rarely specialized. He was | | | | If you are having surgery in a non-hospital setting, |
| invited by Harold D. Gillies to join a war effort to | | | | look for this qualification. |
| offer plastic surgery to maimed soldiers. When | | | | Will My Healthcare Coverage Pay for Canadian |
| the war was over Dr. Risdon returned to Toronto | | | | Plastic Surgery? |
| and the Toronto Western Hospital where he | | | | Patients who wish to undergo Canadian plastic |
| continued to practice cosmetic surgery almost | | | | surgery procedures need to know that there is a |
| exclusively. Many people consider him the father | | | | good chance the surgery will not be covered by |
| of Canadian plastic surgery. | | | | their medical coverage, whether they have |
| Dr. Risdon was Toronto's first plastic surgeon, and | | | | government healthcare or private healthcare. Most |
| he solidified the study of the specialty at the | | | | plastic surgery procedures that are cosmetic in |
| University of Toronto, where he practiced for 45 | | | | nature are not covered by healthcare coverage |
| years. By 1958 the Division of Plastic Surgery at | | | | plans. These are considered optional surgeries and |
| the University had been established, giving | | | | are, therefore, the responsibility of the patient to |
| physicians a place to go to be educated in the | | | | fund. |
| specialty. Today, the University of Toronto as well | | | | There is an exception to this, however. Some |
| as McGill University in Montreal both lead the field | | | | plastic surgery procedures, such as skin grafts |
| of Canadian plastic surgery, focusing on improving | | | | after a fire or surgeries to fix a cleft palate, are |
| techniques and utilizing new technologies to make | | | | considered medically necessary. Medically |
| procedures more effective and affordable. | | | | necessary procedures are usually covered if the |
| Is Canadian Plastic Surgery Safe? | | | | patient has the necessary referrals from a regular |
| As with plastic surgery in almost any country, | | | | physician. |
| there are dangers involved with having plastic | | | | If your medical coverage will not cover a |
| surgery performed in Canada. For instance, you | | | | procedure, yet you still wish to have it done, you |
| can find doctors who are not board certified that | | | | may be able to find a clinic or doctor that has a |
| are practicing cosmetic procedures. These | | | | payment plan structure in place that will allow you |
| physicians do not have the experience and | | | | to pay for the procedure over time. Some |
| education necessary to perform complicated | | | | physicians require upfront payment, so you will |
| procedures, and patients are often left with | | | | have to find outside financing. Regardless of how |
| less-than-desirable results after having surgery | | | | you choose to pay the bill, you need to be aware |
| with an under-qualified doctor. | | | | of the fact that you will probably have to pay for |
| To keep this from being a problem, look for a | | | | some of the surgery, if not all of it, out of your |
| doctor who is certified as a cosmetic surgeon by | | | | own pocket, so you will need to decide if the cost |
| the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of | | | | is worth the potential benefit. |
| Canada. You can also contact the Canadian | | | | |