In plastic surgery, the most important decision is not "which procedure". It is "whom do I trust to perform this on my body". This article gives a concrete checking framework — not gut feeling, not advertising — to help you decide with information.
1. Is the surgeon board-certified in plastic surgery?
This is the most basic question, yet it often goes unchecked. In Vietnam, plastic surgery may only be performed by a physician with a surgical practice licence and at a facility licensed for surgery by the Ministry of Health or the provincial Department of Health.
- Ask to see the practice licence — number, date of issue, issuing authority.
- Verify the licence number on the Ministry of Health or Department of Health portal.
- Ask to see the specialty certificate in plastic surgery (or plastic and reconstructive surgery).
- Distinguish from a "cosmetic doctor" — this is not an officially recognised specialty in Vietnam.
2. Does the surgeon have specific experience with your procedure?
Board certification does not mean equal experience with every operation. Nose, eye, breast, reconstructive — each subspecialty has its own techniques and risks. A responsible surgeon is candid about the scope of their practice.
- Ask: how many of this procedure do you perform per year?
- More than 100 per year for a single procedure is typically a sign of specialised experience.
- Some procedures (revision rhinoplasty, microsurgical flaps) need specific subspecialty experience — ask for evidence of it.
3. Is the facility licensed for the specific surgery?
The facility must be licensed by the Ministry of Health or the Department of Health for the type of surgery planned. A clinic licensed only for filler injection is not authorised to perform rhinoplasty or breast augmentation.
- Ask to see the operating licence.
- Ask which procedures are within the licensed scope.
- For procedures requiring general anaesthesia, verify the facility has a hospital-grade operating theatre.
- For major procedures (reconstruction, lower body lift), verify the facility has inpatient and recovery capability.
4. Is there a board-certified anaesthesiologist for general-anaesthesia cases?
Every case under general anaesthesia must have a dedicated, board-certified anaesthesiologist present continuously from start to finish. This is not a premium option; it is a basic safety standard.
- Ask: who will administer anaesthesia? Are they a board-certified anaesthesiologist?
- Will they remain present throughout the case, or only "induce" and leave?
- Will you meet them at a pre-operative visit, or only on the morning of surgery?
5. Will the surgeon say "you should not have surgery"?
This is one of the most important — and most subtle — signs. A responsible surgeon does not operate on every consultation. Reasons to decline include:
- Unrealistic expectations.
- Signs of a psychological condition that affects the decision.
- Uncontrolled medical contraindications.
- Insufficient deliberation — the patient needs more time.
In consultation, ask: "Do you ever decline to operate? When?" If the answer is "I take every case" — that is a red flag. Most experienced surgeons have a portion of cases they decline.
6. Does the surgeon present the full set of risks?
This is the part most often "rushed" in hurried consultations. A responsible surgeon presents the specific risks of the specific operation — not just "there are general risks".
- General risks of surgery and anaesthesia.
- Procedure-specific risks.
- The surgeon's own rates of these complications.
- The possibility of future revision surgery.
- What happens if a complication arises — how the facility handles it.
7. Is the surgical consent document clear?
The surgical consent is an important legal document. Ask to see it in advance, read it carefully, do not sign in haste:
- The specific procedure name — detailed, not vague.
- The specific surgeon's name — not "the on-call surgeon".
- Risks listed in full.
- Revision policy.
- The right to refuse surgery at any time before anaesthesia.
- Privacy policy and use of images.
A practical rule: if you are not comfortable asking at least five of the seven questions above, or if the surgeon is not comfortable answering them — that is a signal to seek another consultation. A responsible surgeon welcomes these questions.
Red flags
Some signs warrant particular caution:
- Pressure to decide in the consultation — "deposit today to lock the price".
- Significant discounts for "signing today".
- Advertised "100% result guarantee" or "no risk".
- Consultation by a sales staff member rather than a physician.
- Refusal to show licences and certificates.
- No board-certified anaesthesiologist for GA cases.
- No emergency capability on site (no monitoring, no emergency drugs).
Frequently asked questions
How many consultations should I have before deciding?
There is no "right number". Many patients consult 2–3 clinics to compare. Excessive consultations (5–10) can produce information overload and decision fatigue. Quality of consultation matters more than count — a careful 45–60-minute consultation is worth more than three rushed 15-minute ones.
Is a lower price a sign of a worse surgeon?
Not automatically. But plastic surgery has fixed costs — a board-certified surgeon, a board-certified anaesthesiologist, a hospital-grade operating theatre, materials, medication, inpatient care. A price substantially below the market average usually means something has been cut — and what gets cut is typically safety (non-specialist anaesthesia, materials of unclear origin, no overnight observation). "Saving" on these is not real saving.
Are "social-media famous" surgeons a good choice?
Not necessarily. Social-media presence reflects marketing capacity, not surgical skill. Some excellent surgeons have minimal social media; some less experienced surgeons have strong marketing. Professional criteria (certification, experience, facility) remain the foundation — follower count is not.
Public hospital or private — which?
Public hospitals typically have high safety standards and well-trained surgeons, but may have shorter consultation times and longer waiting lists. Private hospitals can offer more thorough consultation and flexible scheduling — but standards vary widely between facilities. Evaluate each facility on its own merits, not by "public vs private".
If the surgeon refers me to a colleague in the same team, is that safe?
If the initial surgeon honestly says "I am not the best person for this case — my colleague has more specific experience" — that is a positive signal about integrity. The patient should still meet the new surgeon, re-assess, and not assume automatic acceptance. But internal referral is usually better than "whoever has an open slot".