01Article · Choosing a doctor
Five things to consider —
before choosing a cosmetic doctor.
There is a great deal of information online about cosmetic procedures, and not all of it is balanced. The five considerations below — credentials, communication, the consultation process, regulatory guidelines, and how to read result imagery — are the ones we ask patients to think through before they commit to anyone.
02Why this article exists
Take time —
and ask the questions.
A note on language. This article uses the word doctor and practitioner throughout. In Australia, specialist surgeon is a regulated AHPRA title held by registered specialists in fields such as plastic surgery or general surgery. Dr Nara is a registered medical practitioner with cosmetic surgical training through the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine — not a registered specialist surgeon. The page URL contains the older word surgeon for historical reasons; the body uses the language we are required to use.
Cosmetic procedures — both non-surgical and surgical — are elective. They are also significant. The Medical Board of Australia encourages patients to take time, to seek a second medical opinion, and to consider their decision over multiple consultations rather than in a single visit. We agree with that completely.
More on the potential risks of cosmetic procedures is available on our risks page.
— Dr Kishen Nara, RevAesthetic Melbourne.
03One — Credentials
Look at training,
not just titles.
The Medical Board of Australia requires every doctor to be transparent about their credentials. That means you can — and should — ask. The Australian healthcare system trains doctors largely through the public hospital network, where cosmetic medicine and surgery is not part of the curriculum, because Medicare does not cover elective cosmetic procedures.
Cosmetic-specific training is delivered through colleges whose work is built around private cosmetic clinics and day surgeries — for example the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine. A fellowship there involves years of training, examinations and supervision, with rotations specifically in cosmetic settings. You can look up the Victorian directory to confirm a doctor's listing.
Two questions are reasonable to ask at any first consultation. What is your training in cosmetic medicine and surgery? And what role do you hold within the clinic — are you the doctor performing the procedure?
04Two — Communication
Rapport —
quietly important.
A doctor can hold every relevant qualification and still not be the right doctor for you. Communication, listening, and the willingness to talk you out of a procedure when it is not in your interests — these are part of clinical care, not optional extras. The Medical Board of Australia encourages a second medical opinion for exactly that reason.
Credentials checklist
- AHPRA registration — every Australian medical practitioner can be looked up on the public register.
- Specific training in cosmetic medicine, separate from general medical or hospital-based training.
- Membership of a college whose training is dedicated to cosmetic medicine and surgery.
- Transparency — clinicians should be willing to share their training and credentials on request.
Consultation checklist
- More than one consultation before any decision is finalised.
- A specialist general practitioner referral and a psychological assessment.
- A written cooling-off period before any deposit is paid.
- Open discussion of risks and complications, in line with your individual medical history.
05Three — The specific procedure
A general assessment —
before a specific plan.
Some patients arrive with a specific procedure in mind — for instance, a particular labiaplasty technique. That is a reasonable starting point, but the consultation itself begins more broadly. A general medical and cosmetic assessment, in line with Medical Board of Australia guidelines, helps clarify whether the procedure you have in mind is in fact the right option, whether a different approach would suit your circumstances better, or whether the timing is right at all.
For a worked example, our labiaplasty page covers the assessment process and the techniques we discuss with patients in plain language.
06Four — Regulatory guidelines
Code of conduct,
guidelines, protocols.
A doctor and the clinic in which they practise should both be clearly working within the Medical Board of Australia code of conduct. For cosmetic surgical procedures, current guidelines call for at least two consultations, a referral from a general practitioner, and a psychological assessment. A cooling-off period applies before any deposit is paid. If a clinic feels rushed, or if any of these steps is missing, that is a reason to pause.
Patients arrive at RevAesthetic from across Victoria — from regional towns, from interstate, and from the Melbourne metropolitan area. The same considered process applies to everyone. Discrimination on any basis is not tolerated.
07Five — Reading result imagery
Five questions —
for every result image.
Result imagery — whether shown in person at a consultation or online — should answer five questions. If any of the answers is unclear, ask. The Medical Board of Australia has explicit guidance on imagery used in cosmetic advertising, and a clinic that follows it should be able to answer all five plainly.
- 01Who actually performed the procedure shown in the image?
- 02What procedure was performed, described in plain language?
- 03When was the image taken, relative to the procedure date?
- 04How were the photographs taken — same lighting, same posture, same distance?
- 05Why did this patient consider the procedure, and what was the consent process?
08About the practitioner
Dr Kishen
Nara.
Dr Kishen Nara is a registered medical practitioner. He sees patients across Melbourne, Tasmania and Adelaide. The team at RevAesthetic includes practice manager Cate, Patient Liaison Jenny, and registered nurses, all involved in supporting your enquiry.
All assessments are conducted in line with Medical Board of Australia guidelines. A second medical opinion is encouraged at any stage.
- MBBSBachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery — Monash University
- FACCSM(Surg)Surgical Fellow, Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine
- AHPRARegistered medical practitioner — General Registration MED0001201549
- ACCSMCosmetic surgical training delivered through the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine
09Enquire
Begin a
conversation.
Consultations are conducted personally by Dr Nara across Melbourne, Tasmania and Adelaide. We respond within one business day. There is a written reflection period before any decision, and a second medical opinion is encouraged at any stage.
10Continue reading
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Curated articles on cosmetic medicine and surgery from Dr Kishen Nara.
Disclaimer: All cosmetic procedures have inherent potential risks and complications. We encourage you to seek a second opinion from a qualified medical professional before any procedure. Material on this page is educational in nature and is not generalisable — outcomes vary significantly between patients depending on genetic composition, medical history and individual circumstances.