The complete 5-step process for verifying any surgeon's credentials, hospital affiliation, training, and before-and-after gallery — regardless of country.
Choosing a surgeon abroad is the single most important decision you'll make. A verified, board-certified surgeon at a JCI hospital is as safe as domestic care. An unverified provider at an unlicensed facility is genuinely dangerous. This step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to vet any surgeon, anywhere.
Every country has a credentialing body for surgeons. The certification you're verifying depends on the procedure and country:
| Country | Cosmetic Surgery Board | How to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia | SCCP (Sociedad Colombiana de Cirugía Plástica) | sccp.org.co — member directory lookup |
| United States | ABPS (American Board of Plastic Surgery) | abplasticsurgery.org |
| Mexico | CMCPC (Consejo Mexicano de Cirugía Plástica) | cmcpc.org.mx |
| Brazil | SBCP (Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica) | cirurgiaplastica.org.br |
| Turkey | Various — less standardized | Ask for specific board affiliation and verify directly |
Where does the surgeon operate? The facility matters as much as the surgeon:
Many top surgeons in Colombia completed fellowships at world-class institutions — Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, NYU, top European centers. Ask your surgeon about their training pipeline and any international fellowships or visiting professorships.
A legitimate surgeon will conduct a thorough virtual assessment before accepting you. Red flags during consultation:
Evaluate the gallery critically: consistent lighting and angles (trustworthy), multiple body types represented, timeline photos (1 week, 1 month, 6 months), and ask for photos during your consultation — not just the curated website gallery.