Choosing a surgeon

How to Vet a Surgeon Beyond Their Website

Dr Danie Hoffmann4 min read

HPCSA register, hospital privileges, professional society membership, and the way the rooms handle you.

You can independently verify a surgeon's HPCSA registration on the HPCSA public register — it will show their name, registration number and specialty. Membership of APRASSA is a further indicator of specialist standing.

Hospital privileges matter: a surgeon should be able to name the hospital or hospitals at which they operate, and those facilities should be accredited private hospitals or licensed day clinics — not unnamed rooms.

Beyond the paperwork, the way the practice handles a first phone or email enquiry tells you a great deal: whether questions are answered clearly, whether you are pressed for a deposit before consultation, whether the surgeon (not just a coordinator) sees you at the first visit.

Educational content only. Results vary between individuals and all surgery carries risk. Every plan begins with an unhurried consultation and an examination — never a quote over the phone.

◉ Next step

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Reading is a start. The next step is an individual examination and a written surgical plan — never a quote over the phone.

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