Do you want to be treated by the best-trained doctor with the right qualifications?
In many countries it is not always clear how you can find the right doctor.
This website helps you select REAL plastic surgeons.
Real plastic surgeons have studied Medicine to become a Medical Doctor (MD). With additional training and studying they have become Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, generally after an exam. After graduating they have been registered as Plastic Surgeons by the Health Government.
In Finland the training to become a medical doctor consists of:
After that the doctors are able to apply registration for medical doctor (MD) from National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (VALVIRA). VALVIRA grants a licence to practice the profession as a MD upon application and the doctors are also entered in the Central Register of Health Care Professionals (known as Terhikki, https://julkiterhikki.valvira.fi). All MDs have thereafter their doctor ID.
Specialization in Plastic surgery is performed at one of the five University Hospitals in Finland. The training is subject to strict requirements. The medical doctor is licensed by VALVIRA to practice the profession of medical doctor in Finland.
The training for specialization lasts at least 6 years and consists of
There are some mandatory courses related to plastic surgery (4 Nordic Courses, ABLS, Microsurgical course, flap course). In addition, there are several mandatory courses not directly related to plastic surgery.
The purpose of the specialization program is to achieve surgical skills. The program consists of attending, assisting, and performing numerous surgical procedures.
After passing the final exams a registration for a plastic surgeon is applied from National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (VALVIRA). A specialist registration number will be given by the organization.
The training of an official plastic surgeon does not stop. Most plastic surgeons do additional Fellowships and courses to learn more about specific areas of our specialty. Possible directions are
Documents of attended courses, symposia and congresses verify that a plastic surgeon is interested in updating one’s skills – important fact for a patient with a specific question or problem.
All European countries have National Societies who represent the Plastic Surgery community. Membership of such a Society is highly recommended for REAL plastic surgeons. You can verify this in the chart of the doctor on this website.
In Finland the name of the National Society is
Memberships of relevant European and International Societies show additional Commitment to areas the plastic surgeon is most interested in. The most relevant individual member Societies include
This website helps you to find a REAL plastic surgeon, not a fake one, in Finland. All the members of the Finnish Society are listed in this website. If you can not find the name of your doctor in the list, it is possible that the person is, for example, general surgeon, general practitioner or no doctor at all.