Frequently Asked Questions

This is the overall designation of our specialty. It encompasses all procedures that modify, repair, or enhance the skin and body contours. There are two main categories:

• Reconstructive surgery, which brings a transformation from the "abnormal or pathological" toward the "normal" -- for example, congenital malformations, burn sequelae, bite injuries, or consequences of destructive surgery following cancer. The goal is to repair a defect and strive for the greatest possible improvement, though this involves scarring and sometimes repeated operations. These procedures are normally covered by health insurance, sometimes automatically, sometimes subject to prior approval.

• Cosmetic surgery, which transforms from the "normal" toward the "beautiful" -- outside the context of illness and therefore without any financial contribution from the social security system.

Currently, this standalone specialty of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery is obtained after 15 years of training, which includes 7 years of general medical studies followed by a competitive residency examination that provides 5 years of surgical training, supplemented by a minimum 2-year fellowship or post-residency period.

Based on this hospital and university training, the Medical Council confirms the practitioner's registration on the national Specialty register. Before 1988, practitioners from various backgrounds -- general surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons, ENT specialists, or ophthalmologists -- who had completed a full and validated training curriculum could obtain the Ordinal qualification after review of their file by the relevant committee.

Many surgeons practice in Sector II, meaning they may charge a fee supplement for consultations and surgical procedures. This means the patient will pay an amount exceeding the Social Security rate. This difference is never reimbursed by the public health system but may be covered by complementary private insurance depending on the contract. This practice is entirely legal, and the price difference is justified by the complexity and duration of these procedures, which are rather poorly compensated by current Social Security rates.

The practitioner pays higher social contributions in exchange for their freedom to set fees. Naturally, the additional expense must be fully noted on the care sheet or the clinic invoice; the amount must have been announced and explained during pre-operative consultations.

All cosmetic surgery procedures are performed voluntarily, at the patient's request, for personal reasons, and after two consultations and the preparation of an estimate. These procedures are not included in the general nomenclature of Social Security acts; they have no tariff existence and cannot give rise to any reimbursement, even partial.

As a result, complementary private insurance, which is useful for Sector II fee supplements, is entirely ineffective for cosmetic surgery procedures.