Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons - ASAPS

Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons - ASAPS Since 1977, ASAPS has been a peak body for cosmetic surgery in Australia and New Zealand. We represe

The Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) has been one of the world’s leading organisations in cosmetic surgery education and research. Our members are all Specialist Plastic Surgeons and Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) specialising in surgery of the face, breast and body.

While we confirm the 48th Annual ASAPS Conference 2026 program, speakers and workshops, we invite all Specialist Plastic...
13/04/2026

While we confirm the 48th Annual ASAPS Conference 2026 program, speakers and workshops, we invite all Specialist Plastic Surgeons, their Nurse and Practice Staff, as well as Australasian Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) Trainees to Save the Date.

48th Annual ASAPS Conference 2026
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
13-15 November 2026

The 2026 conference theme, Body Contouring | Breast, will anchor a comprehensive scientific program, complemented by a Business Management Stream, Nurses Stream, and an expanded Non-Surgical focus. Together, these elements create an exceptional opportunity to learn, collaborate and connect across disciplines.

More information can be found on the Event page via www.aestheticplasticsurgeons.org.au/events/

13/04/2026

How to find a good fit for your cosmetic plastic surgery?

So, I think the most important thing is really feeling at ease with your surgeon, and I think that comes from hopefully a good recommendation. The first place I would go to would be a trusted GP or friend that's had good plastic surgery.

And from there, really getting to know that surgeon, getting to know what that surgeon does and their personality, the sorts of procedures that they do and they are good at, I think is probably the most important sort of way of finding your best fit for a plastic surgeon.

Find a Specialist Plastic Surgeon at asaps.org.au

01/04/2026

There are several checks that a patient should do before choosing a surgeon.

I think the first is actually their qualification. Make sure that as the patient, that you're being treated by a specialist plastic surgeon. In Australia, not everyone is trained in plastic surgery.

Only recently our title has been protected both as a surgeon and as plastic surgeon and therefore not all cosmetic practitioners are the same.

There are good ways to check. This could be from an AHPRA website to check if they actually hold specialist registration.

I think another way is just which hospitals they work at. Are they in accredited facilities in general? Bigger hospitals that are accredited, they're safe for general anaesthesia, will only hire the most reputable surgeons.

When you actually go to a surgeon, I think have a list of questions. It really centres on what their areas of interest are, what their experience is. I think a key component is how they're going to look after you, not just during surgery, but also afterwards. How long will they follow you up for and how they'll manage complications?

I think ultimately a word of mouth referral or someone that you have a personal connection with and you can trust, I think that's a really good way to find a surgeon.

Dr Shagun Aggarwal
Specialist Plastic Surgeon MED0001131487

Find a Specialist Plastic Surgeon at asaps.org.au

ASAPS Member SpotlightDr Ilias KotronakisSpecialist Plastic Surgeon MED0001182552Dr Ilias Kotronakis is a fully qualifie...
01/04/2026

ASAPS Member Spotlight

Dr Ilias Kotronakis
Specialist Plastic Surgeon MED0001182552

Dr Ilias Kotronakis is a fully qualified Australian trained Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. He is a native of Sydney, and received his medical degree with first class Honours from the University of Sydney. He went on to complete his internship, residency and registrarship at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Dr Kotronakis undertook intensive training in general and Plastic Surgery in Sydney for ten years. After he attained his full qualifications he underwent further training in microsurgery at Charing Cross Hospital in London, in association with the Imperial College of Medicine. 

Dr Kotronakis is a specialist plastic surgeon at Southern Aesthetic. He has special interests in reconstructive surgery, including skin cancer, head and neck cancer, hand surgery and facial surgery.

Find a Specialist Plastic Surgeon at asaps.org.au

27/03/2026

Important considerations when choosing a cosmetic plastic surgeon.

When choosing to have plastic surgery and cosmetic plastic surgery, you want to go to a well-credentialed, well-trained plastic surgeon who is board-certified in plastic surgery, who is ideally part of the network of the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. We've spent a great deal of time discussing nuances of techniques. We're really passionate about getting the best results for our patients.

We robustly debate this amongst ourselves in order to try and tailor things for that individual patient. There's a huge amount of training that goes on. For me, it was 17 years from the start of medical school to become a specialist, and that's really, that was my, if you like, undergraduate plastic training, and then from there it's been another 22 years of experience in order to get to the level I am now.

And I think that's really reassuring. Check with other people. If you know people who have been to a plastic surgeon and had really nice results, also meet the plastic surgeon.

If you find that they have the same rapport and a similar approach to you, then that's a really good thing. But sometimes you don't feel comfortable, in which case it's probably better to find someone else.

Dr Jesse Kenton Smith
ASAPS Vice President and Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Find a Specialist Plastic Surgeon at asaps.org.au

23/03/2026

What are the most important things to look for when selecting your cosmetic plastic surgeon?

"I think the most important thing when selecting your surgeon is to ensure that they are adequately trained in the procedure that you want. And when I say adequately trained, you want to make sure that we have the highest level of, in Australia, that is being a surgeon to start with, ideally a plastic surgeon, ideally a plastic surgeon with cosmetic experience, and that can be international fellowships, that can be runs on the board in terms of procedures that you've seen before and after photos. You want to make sure that your surgeon has gone through all those checks and balances.

And then you can double check that with, are they operating out of an accredited institution, a hospital that is an accredited hospital? Are they a member of ASAPS? Are they a member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons? Are they a member of the normal medical associations like the Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons or the AMA? I think all these things together come to increase your likelihood of having a safe procedure with someone that is best able to give you the best result."

Dr Phaethon Karagiannis
Specialist Plastic Surgeon MED0001666891

Find a Specialist Plastic Surgeon at asaps.org.au

12/03/2026

Checks to make when selecting a cosmetic plastic surgeon?

So, in my mind, the checks that I would make if I was having any sort of cosmetic surgery with a plastic surgeon would be number one, do I get on with that person? Do I feel really comfortable to tell them what I'm looking for? And more importantly, would I feel comfortable coming back to them if I wasn't happy with something? So that part of it, I think is really important.

Another part is what's their experience? Are they comfortable? Is that a procedure that they do routinely? And does what they have in their mind as being an outcome match with what I have in my mind with that becoming an outcome? And so that's when I would ask for before and after photos just to see that we're both on the same page.

I think an availability is another thing that I would be concerned about if I was having cosmetic surgery. Do I know, do I have an exact plan of knowing how to contact that person or that surgeon if I was to run into trouble? And I would certainly look for that when I'm having a consultation and choosing a plastic surgeon.

I think those things make you more comfortable as a patient and also makes your surgeon more comfortable because obviously they want to give you an outcome that you're going to be happy with. So all the stars essentially have to align.

Find a Specialist Plastic Surgeon at asaps.org.au

07/03/2026

This International Women's Day we thank all the women that contribute to ASAPS, our industry, and our members' practices - from our President and Board Members, to General Manager, members, collaborators, nurses, and practice teams.

"We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women's voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored." Sheryl Sandberg

📸 ASAPS Annual Conference 2026 - .media

05/03/2026

Where to find a cosmetic plastic surgeon?

The first place a patient should check is with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to ensure that their surgeon is an AHPRA registered specialist surgeon and preferably a specialist plastic surgeon. Specialist plastic surgeons undergo extra training to ensure that they can deliver the best possible outcome for their patients.

Beyond looking at AHPRA, the patient should also look at her or his chosen surgeon's website just to get a feel for the practice and ensure that they gel with the practice and that they feel comfortable with that surgeon and that practice providing the necessary aftercare, not just for their operation, for the weeks and months that will follow the operation.

In New Zealand we recommend confirming specialist registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ).

Find a Specialist Plastic Surgeon at asaps.org.au

26/02/2026

So, if you're looking to find a surgeon for yourself, you really want to check that they are a specialist plastic surgeon. So, check on the AHPRA website and check their accredited title is a specialist plastic surgeon there. You also can check whether they're a member of the Australian

Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) or Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) and you can check if they're a board certified member with the Australian and New Zealand Board of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery (ANZBCPS) as well.

Generally they need to have at least 12 years of training and postgraduate fellowship training in addition to that. When you're picking your surgeon, it's often good to call the clinic and see what care they provide. Generally the more information they give you the better and you may want to interview and consult a number of surgeons to find who's the right fit for you in approach and personality and skills.

Find a specialist plastic surgeon at asaps.org.au

19/02/2026

So, when choosing your cosmetic plastic surgeon, you should ensure that they're accredited to the high standards here in Australia.

That means that they're a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, a member with the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), and more recently, board certification in cosmetic plastic surgery with the Australian and New Zealand Board of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery (ANZBCPS).

These bodies will ensure that your plastic surgeon is of the high standard, continues professional development, and will look after you to the best of their ability.

Find a Specialist Plastic Surgeon at asaps.org.au

Find an ANZBCPS Board Certified Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon at boardcertified.org.au



ASAPS Member SpotlightDr Ania SmialkowskiMBBS, FRACS (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)Specialist Plastic Surgeon MED0...
11/02/2026

ASAPS Member Spotlight

Dr Ania Smialkowski
MBBS, FRACS (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)
Specialist Plastic Surgeon MED0001068109

Dr Ania Smialkowski is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon with a focus on breast and body contouring. Known for her warm, evidence-based approach, she’s passionate about helping women make informed decisions about their care. With years of surgical experience and a commitment to safety and honesty, Dr Ania offers personalised treatment grounded in both experience and empathy.

Find a Specialist Plastic Surgeon at asaps.org.au

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Suite G01, Ground Floor, 69 Christie Street, St Leonards
Sydney, NSW
2065

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The Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) is one of Australasia’s leading organisations in cosmetic surgery education and research. Our members are all Specialist Plastic Surgeons and Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) specialising in aesthetic surgery of the face, breast and body.