How to Verify a Plastic Surgeon in Colombia: A Foreigner’s Step-by-Step Guide

Why Verifying Your Surgeon Is the Most Important Step in Medical Tourism

Choosing to travel abroad for plastic surgery is an exciting decision—but it must start with research. Verifying your plastic surgeon’s credentials in Colombia is the single most important way to protect your safety and achieve world-class results.

Colombia is now a global leader in plastic surgery, attracting patients from the United States, Canada, and Europe for its combination of expertise, advanced technology, and personalized care. At Premium Care Plastic Surgery, we believe informed patients make safer choices—and our published research proves that medical tourism, when done right, can be as safe as surgery in the U.S.

✅ The Official 2-Step Process to Verify a Plastic Surgeon in Colombia

Step 1: Check the SCCP (Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery)

The Sociedad Colombiana de Cirugía Plástica, Estética y Reconstructiva (SCCP) is Colombia ‘s official certifying body.
Visit the SCCP website to confirm that your surgeon:

• Is an active SCCP member in good standing.
  
• Completed a formal residency in Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgery.
  
• Is recognized as a board-certified plastic surgeon in Colombia.
  

💡 All Premium Care surgeons—including Dr. Alex Campbell and Dr. Carolina Restrepo—are SCCP-certified and maintain international credentials exceeding national standards.

Step 2: Verify Registration with the Ministry of Health (REPS)

Next, visit the Registro Especial de Prestadores de Servicios de Salud (REPS) at prestadores.minsalud.gov.co to confirm that:

• Your surgeon and clinic appear in the registry.
  
• They’re authorized to perform surgeries in accredited facilities.
  
• They meet Colombia’s medical and safety requirements.
  

✅ Premium Care Plastic Surgery is fully REPS-registered and audited to the highest safety benchmarks.

Meet the Surgeons: Dr. Alex Campbell & Dr. Carolina Restrepo

Dr. Alex Campbell, M.D.

Dr. Campbell is a U.S.-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon in the USA and Colombia who has spent more than 15 years building one of Latin America’s most respected plastic-surgery programs for international patients.
He completed his medical education and plastic-surgery residency in the United States.

Dr. Campbell is:

• A board-certified member of the SCCP (Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery)
  
• Founding Medical Director of the Guwahati Comprehensive Cleft Care Center in India (An Operation Smile Global Initiative)
  
• A peer-reviewed author and international lecturer on plastic-surgery safety and medical-tourism outcomes
  

His combination of American training, academic leadership, and patient-safety focus has made him a trusted surgeon for international patients seeking excellence abroad.

Dr. Carolina Restrepo, M.D.

Dr. Restrepo is a Colombian board-certified plastic surgeon and SCCP member, trained at the prestigious Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá.
She completed her Plastic, Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery residency at Clínica San Rafael, renowned for elite surgical training.

Her credentials include:

• SCCP-certified Plastic Surgeon
  
• Founder of Premium Care Kids Foundation, providing free cleft surgeries for Colombian children
  
• Published research and humanitarian experience across multiple continents
  

Together, Dr. Campbell and Dr. Restrepo combine American and Colombian expertise to lead Premium Care Plastic Surgery—an internationally accredited center of excellence recognized for innovation, safety, and compassion.

📚 Peer-Reviewed Research: Proven Safety and Outcomes in Medical Tourism

Premium Care’s commitment to safety and transparency extends beyond clinical practice—it’s documented in three major peer-reviewed publications in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open, the journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

1️⃣ Plastic Surgery Medical Tourism in Colombia (2019)

Analyzed 658 international patients undergoing 1,796 procedures.
Findings showed that 100% of surgeries were performed in accredited hospitals, demonstrating Colombia’s rise as a safe, world-class destination for aesthetic surgery.

2️⃣ Patient Satisfaction with Medical Tourism (2020)

Reviewed 460 international patients and found 98.2 % would recommend Premium Care to others.
The study documented exceptional satisfaction in communication, safety, and results.

3️⃣ Safety and Outcomes in Plastic Surgery Medical Tourism (2025)

Our latest and largest study—2,324 patients and 7,141 procedures—demonstrated:

• Complication rate: 6.2% per patient (2.2% per procedure).
  
• Safety comparable to top U.S. centers using data from the ASPS TOPS database.
  
• Superior results in tummy tuck and liposuction safety rates compared to U.S. benchmarks.
  This study confirms that when performed in high-volume, well-regulated centers, plastic surgery medical tourism can match—or surpass—U.S. standards.
  

🩸 Together, these three publications represent the largest body of peer-reviewed data on plastic-surgery medical tourism worldwide, solidifying Premium Care’s position as a global leader in safety, outcomes, and patient satisfaction.

Key Questions to Ask During Your Virtual Consultation

• Are you SCCP-certified and REPS-registered?
  
• Where do you perform surgeries, and what safety measures are in place?
  
• Who will follow up with me after surgery if I live abroad?
  

At Premium Care, you’ll always speak directly with your surgeon—no sales intermediaries, no uncertainty.

Cosmetic Surgeon vs. Plastic Surgeon ?: Know the Difference

In Colombia, only surgeons who complete an official residency in Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgery and hold SCCP certification can legally call themselves Plastic Surgeons.
“Cosmetic surgeons” may lack accredited training.

Both Dr. Campbell and Dr. Restrepo are fully certified plastic surgeons, internationally recognized for safety, outcomes, and ethics.

🌍 Verifying Real Patient Reviews

Authentic clinics share verified testimonials, photos, and recovery stories.
Premium Care features hundreds of genuine patient journeys on Google, RealSelf, and YouTube—allowing you to see authentic transformations and hear directly from real international patients.

🇨🇴 Is It Safe to Get Plastic Surgery in Colombia?

Yes—when you choose the right team.
Colombia’s leading clinics uphold global standards in surgical and anesthesia care, maintaining rigorous infection-control and post-operative care protocols.
Premium Care Plastic Surgery was designed for international patients, with bilingual staff, full-service logistics, and luxurious recovery accommodations—all backed by uncompromising medical quality.

✨ Ready to Verify and Begin Your Journey?

Now that you know how to verify a plastic surgeon in Colombia, choose a team that checks every box—and exceeds them.

👉 Schedule a Virtual Consultation with our SCCP-certified, internationally trained surgeons and discover why patients from the U.S., Canada, and Europe trust Premium Care Plastic Surgery in beautiful Cartagena.