Short answer: Check four things: the practitioner’s registration with that country’s official regulator, their specialist training, the facility’s licence or accreditation, and who will actually perform each step. Smartraveller advises confirming your surgeon’s credentials and accreditation and not choosing on cost alone (Smartraveller (opens official site)). Get everything in writing, and talk to your GP before you book.
Risks and limitations to understand first
| Point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Titles may not be protected | ASAPS notes that in some countries, surgeon titles aren’t protected and training may be unverified (ASAPS (opens official site)). |
| “Ghost surgeons” | ASAPS warns that in some countries, the surgeon you meet may not be the one who operates (ASAPS (opens official site)). |
| Accreditation isn’t a guarantee | Accreditation applies to a facility, not a surgeon, and doesn’t guarantee a result. |
| Ahpra can’t help overseas | Ahpra’s register only covers practitioners registered in Australia (Ahpra (opens official site)). |
| Checks reduce risk, not remove it | Even a well-qualified surgeon can’t guarantee an outcome. |
Step 1: Check registration
Ask for the practitioner’s full name and registration number, then check them on the official register:
| Country | Doctors | Dentists |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Medical Council of Thailand: Check MD (opens official site) | Dental Council of Thailand: Find Dentist (opens official site) |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Konsil Kesehatan Indonesia: registration (STR) (opens official site) [Reviewer to confirm the current public lookup] | PDGI dentist check (opens official site) |
| Türkiye | [Reviewer to identify a public lookup, if one exists] | [As for doctors] |
| Australia (for comparison) | Ahpra register of practitioners (opens official site) | Same register |
In Australia, the Ahpra register shows whether a doctor holds a cosmetic surgery endorsement, which has been available since 1 July 2023 (Ahpra (opens official site)). Most other countries have no direct equivalent.
Step 2: Check specialist training
- Ask which specialist college or board certified the surgeon in the relevant specialty, and ask for the certificate.
- Ask how often they perform your procedure, and what their complication and revision policy is. ASAPS advises checking a surgeon’s qualifications, registrations and affiliations, and meeting them in person (ASAPS (opens official site)).
- For hair transplants, ISHRS suggests asking about the physician’s specific training in hair restoration (ISHRS (opens official site)).
Step 3: Check the facility
| Country | Official check |
|---|---|
| Thailand | HA Thailand certificate status (opens official site) |
| Indonesia | KARS accredited hospitals (opens official site) |
| Türkiye | Ministry of Health authorised providers (opens official site) and HealthTürkiye certified providers (opens official site) |
| International | JCI accredited organisations search (opens official site) |
Confirm the exact facility where the operation will happen. A consultation clinic and an operating hospital can be different places. See also JCI-accredited hospitals in Thailand.
Step 4: Confirm who operates
Ask in writing who will:
- assess you and plan the procedure
- give the anaesthetic
- perform each surgical step
- manage complications during your stay and after you go home
For hair transplants in Türkiye, joint guidelines say you should be told at the first consultation if a technician, not a doctor, will make the skin incisions (BAAPS (opens official site)).
Red flags
- No named surgeon, or reluctance to share registration details
- Pressure to pay a deposit before you’ve consulted the operating surgeon
- Promises of guaranteed results
- Promises of huge or “unlimited” grafts (ISHRS (opens official site))
- Packages that emphasise travel and hotels over medical care (ISHRS (opens official site))
- No written quote, consent form or complication policy
- Relying on reviews or social media alone. ISHRS notes these don’t tell you who will actually operate (ISHRS (opens official site))
Next steps
- Use our questions to ask before you book.
- Using an agency? See how to choose a medical travel agency.
- Read the country guides for Thailand, Bali and Turkey, and the safety guides for Thailand, Bali and Turkey.
- Plan your aftercare in Australia and the flight home.
Procedure-specific checks: breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, hair transplants, dental implants and the gastric sleeve.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if an overseas surgeon is qualified?
Ask for their registration number and check it on the official register in that country, such as the Medical Council of Thailand’s Check MD. Then ask for their specialist certification.
Can I check an overseas doctor on the Ahpra register?
Only if they’re also registered in Australia. Ahpra’s register covers practitioners registered to practise here.
Does JCI accreditation mean the surgeon is good?
No. JCI accredits facilities, not individual surgeons, and accreditation doesn’t guarantee a result.
What’s a ghost surgeon?
It’s when the surgeon you meet isn’t the one who operates on you. Ask in writing who will perform each step.
Should I choose the cheapest clinic?
Smartraveller advises against choosing on cost alone. Complications can cost much more than the original procedure.
Sources
All accessed 22 October 2026.
- Smartraveller, Sun, sand and cosmetic surgery: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/news-and-updates/sun-sand-and-surgery
- ASAPS, Heading overseas for cosmetic surgery?: https://aestheticplasticsurgeons.org.au/news/heading-overseas-for-cosmetic-surgery-heres-what-you-need-to-know/
- Ahpra, Register of practitioners: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/registration/registers-of-practitioners.aspx
- Ahpra, About endorsement: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Cosmetic-surgery-hub/About-endorsement.aspx
- Medical Council of Thailand, Check MD: https://checkmd.tmc.or.th/En
- Dental Council of Thailand, Find Dentist: https://dentalcouncil.or.th/FindDentist?lang=en
- Konsil Kesehatan Indonesia, Online registration: https://kki.go.id/registrasi
- PDGI, Cek dokter gigi: https://sertifikasi.pdgi.or.id/cek-dokter-gigi
- HA Thailand, Certificate status: https://www.ha.or.th/en/Hospitals/Certificate%20Status
- KARS, Accredited hospitals: https://akreditasi.kars.or.id/application/report/report_accredited.php
- Turkish Ministry of Health, Authorised providers: https://shgmturizmdb.saglik.gov.tr/TR,69063/healthcare-providers-authorized-by-the-ministry.html
- HealthTürkiye, Certified providers: https://healthturkiye.gov.tr/certificated-health-service-providers
- JCI, Find accredited international organisations: https://www.jointcommission.org/en/about-us/recognizing-excellence/find-accredited-international-organizations
- ISHRS, Hair transplant black market red flags: https://fightthefight.ishrs.org/hair-transplant-black-market-red-flags/
- BAAPS, UK and Turkish medical associations unite to issue minimum guidelines for hair transplant surgery: https://baaps.org.uk/media/press_releases/1883/uk_and_turkish_medical_associations_unite_to_issue_minimum_guidelines_for_hair_transplant_surgery/
Disclaimer: The information on medicaltourism.com.au is general in nature. It isn’t medical, legal or financial advice. We don’t endorse or rank practitioners or facilities. See our editorial policy, medical disclaimer and how we make money.