What is a real plastic surgeon in Portugal

 

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), after getting that title they need additional training to become a Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon, generally after an exam. After graduating they are registered as Plastic Surgeons at the Health Government.

 

Medicine

In Portugal the training to become a doctor consists of six years of integrated master s degree in Medicine. All the exams during medical course are organized by Medical Schools. When you finish Medical School you can call yourself a doctor (MD), you will now be registered at the Ordem dos Médicos Portuguesa (National Board), and you get a Medical Licence. This gives you permission to perform medicine care under tutor guidance. The autonomy exercise of medicine is obtained only at the end of the proficiency year (see below).

 

Specialist Training

However, in order to become a plastic surgeon you need additional specialist training. First, you are enrolled in a National Exam to allow the new Doctors to get a place among those who want to start any specialization training. For Plastic Surgery, usually they are 8 to12 places nationwide (among 1200-1300 in total for all specialties), for around 2000 candidates, annually.


This training consists of:

  • 12 months of proficiency year (Ano Comum) – rotations in Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics and Primary Health Care, with continual and formal evaluation exam at the end of each rotation. At the end, you will obtain the license to perform medicine autonomously.
  • 6 years of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery residency, consisting in different rotations, including general surgery (6 months), burn care (6 months), plastic surgery (54 months), and two periods (three months each) of optional training in vascular surgery, orthopedics, pediatric surgery, ENT, intensive care, stomatology, urology, ophthalmology, G&O, dermatology or neurosurgery
  • There is a continual evaluation and annual formal evaluation periods during residency. At the end of the six years, the residents must undergo a national exam organized by the Portuguese Ministry of Health and Ordem dos Médicos, consisting of three steps – theorical, practical and curricular.

 

If you pass this exam you are a plastic surgeon and you will get the title of Specialist in Plastic, Reconstrutive and Aesthetic Surgery in your Medical Border Professional Certificate.

 

Continued Education

When you are an official plastic surgeon your training does not stop, most plastic surgeons do additional Fellowships and courses to learn more about specific areas of our specialty, possible directions are:

  • Aesthetic Surgery
  • Rhinoplasty
  • Microsurgery
  • Burns
  • Hand surgery
  • Breast reconstruction and oncoplastic surgery

Depending on the help you need you might want to verify whether your doctor has done additional training, besides fellowships this can be by attending Courses, symposia and congresses.

 

Membership

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.

For Portugal  the National Society is:

 

  • Sociedade Portuguesa de Cirurgia Plástica, Reconstrutiva e Estética

 

Membership of relevant European and International Societies shows additional Commitment to the area the plastic surgeon is most interested in. Relevant individual member Societies include (non-exhaustive list):

  • European Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ESAPS)
  • Euraps
  • Rhinoplasty Society
  • European Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (ESPRAS)
  • International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS)
  • Etc

 

REAL Plastic Surgeons summary

REAL plastic surgeons have had a thorough training, did an exam and are officially registered at the country’s Ministry of Health. They are member of a National Society and relevant (sub-)specialty societies and continue to learn their entire life.