Becoming a plastic surgeon in Australia involves years of preparation, strategic choices, and a deep understanding of the training pathway.

Dr Ed Riordan is a final year plastic surgery registrar at Prince of Wales Hospital, having spent the last 5 years as an accredited trainee in both public and private hospitals in Sydney. He has spent the last 2 years as the trainee representative on the Australian Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as well as the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

Ed reflects on the process, from internship through to unaccredited registrar years and finally into accredited training. He offers his insights on how to build a competitive application, including the importance of clinical experience, research, references, and interview readiness. Ed discusses the shift to a competency-based training model, the role of rural experience, and the challenges of balancing family life with long hours.

Please note, the views and information shared reflect the personal perspectives of Dr. Ed Riordan and may not represent every individual experience.

Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
www.plasticsurgery.org.au

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For some in our community whose gender identity doesn’t align with their body, it can be frustrating to seek services or procedures in a fragmented and costly system. An application has been made to the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) to have gender-affirming surgeries added to Medicare, which aims to reduce confusion and out-of-pocket costs for patients. The president of the Australian Association of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Associate Professor Nicola Dean, discusses the current process in Australia for those seeking solutions to gender-affirming surgery, including referral options.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

AusPATH (Australian Professional Association for Trans Health)
https://auspath.org.au/

ACON
https://www.acon.org.au/

Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
www.plasticsurgery.org.au

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If you’re considering plastic surgery for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons, the first step is ensuring your surgeon is trained in the area you’re seeking and to the standard of the Australian Medical Council. That’s according to Prof. Mark Ashton, Clinical Professor of Surgery and Honorary Professor of Anatomy at the University of Melbourne.

Some people, he says, have unrealistic expectations about what plastic surgery can achieve or the results it can yield. And so, it’s important to discuss your options with an AMC-accredited surgeon who are all Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Prof Ashton explains what patients should do before and after surgery, how to convey their expectations to a surgeon, and the variuous outcomes after a procedure.

Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
www.plasticsurgery.org.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.