Plastic surgery includes many procedures that can change, rebuild, or improve the face and body. When surgery is chosen mainly to refine appearance, it is often called cosmetic surgery. Others are reconstructive, which means they help restore form or function after injury, cancer, birth differences, burns, or medical conditions.
In Canada, people search for plastic surgery for many different goals. Many patients simply want to look more like themselves. Some want to restore their body after pregnancy, weight loss, or aging. For some patients, the need is related to trauma, skin cancer, breast cancer, or a congenital concern. Choosing the right procedure depends on anatomy, goals, health, lifestyle, and recovery needs.
This page explains the main types of plastic surgery procedures in Canada, with sections on facial surgery, breast surgery, body contouring, reconstructive surgery, and non-surgical cosmetic treatments. The guide also explains important points to review before booking a consultation.
Understanding Cosmetic vs. Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery is often divided into two main categories, cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery.
What Is Cosmetic Plastic Surgery?
Cosmetic plastic surgery is focused on appearance. Elective cosmetic procedures are chosen by the patient and are not usually required for health reasons.
Cosmetic plastic surgery may be used for goals such as:
- Creating better facial balance
- Reducing age-related changes
- Refining body shape
- Restoring lost volume after pregnancy or weight loss
- Addressing concerns with the nose, eyelids, ears, lips, breasts, abdomen, arms, or thighs
- Supporting a better fit in clothing
- Improving confidence in a natural-looking way
Cosmetic procedures in Canada are usually not covered by provincial health plans and are often paid for privately. Fees are affected by factors such as the procedure, surgeon, facility, anesthesia plan, follow-up care, and city or province.
Reconstructive Plastic Surgery in Canada
Reconstructive surgery helps repair or restore form and function. This type of surgery may help after cancer surgery, trauma, burns, infections, birth differences, or other medical conditions.
Reconstructive plastic surgery may include:
- Breast reconstruction after mastectomy
- Skin cancer reconstruction after skin cancer excision
- Cleft lip and palate repair
- Burn scar reconstruction
- Hand repair surgery
- Surgical scar revision
- Wound reconstruction
- Reconstruction after facial trauma
- Correction of congenital concerns
Provincial health plans may cover some reconstructive procedures when they are medically necessary. Purely cosmetic changes are usually paid for privately.
Facial Plastic Surgery Procedures
Plastic surgery for the face can help improve balance, reduce visible aging, and create a more refreshed appearance. Most patients do not want to look “different.” Good facial plastic surgery should often look natural and balanced.
Facelift Procedure (Rhytidectomy)
A facelift, also called rhytidectomy, improves sagging in the lower face and jawline. It can help with jowls, loose facial skin, and deeper folds around the mouth.
Common facelift concerns include:
- Softness or jowling at the jawline
- Skin laxity in the lower face
- Deeper smile lines
- Sagging cheek tissue
- Reduced definition from the jawline into the neck
Many modern facelift techniques focus on deeper support layers under the skin. This can create a smoother, longer-lasting result without a pulled look. A facelift may be combined with a neck lift, eyelid surgery, brow lift, or facial fat grafting.
Platysmaplasty and Neck Lift Surgery
Neck lift surgery may treat loose skin, visible muscle bands, and fullness below the chin. The clinical term for tightening the neck muscle is platysmaplasty.
Patients may consider a neck lift for:
- Prominent neck bands
- Extra neck skin
- An undefined jawline
- Under-chin fullness
- A hanging neck appearance
Some patients need skin and muscle tightening. For patients with extra fat but good skin tone, liposuction under the chin may help. Because the face and neck often age together, a facelift and neck lift may be planned together.
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
Tired-looking eyes may be improved with eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty, by adjusting extra skin, fat, or tissue around the eyelids.
Upper blepharoplasty may help with:
- A weighted upper eyelid look
- Loose upper eyelid skin
- A tired or aged look
- Upper eyelid skin that touches the lashes
- Vision blockage in certain medical cases
Lower eyelid surgery can address:
- Visible under-eye bags
- Lower eyelid puffiness
- Lower eyelid skin laxity
- Dark-looking shadows under the eyes
- A tired look that does not improve with rest
Many patients choose eyelid surgery because small improvements around the eyes can make the whole face look more awake and rested.
Brow Lift Surgery for a Heavy Brow
A forehead lift, commonly called a brow lift, helps lift a low or heavy brow. It may improve the upper eye area and reduce forehead heaviness.
Patients may consider a brow lift for:
- Low or drooping eyebrows
- Heavy upper lids from brow descent
- Forehead creases
- Vertical lines between the brows
- A facial expression that appears tired, sad, or serious
A brow lift should not be confused with eyelid surgery. The eyelids and brows are different structures, so eyelid surgery treats extra eyelid skin and a brow lift treats brow position. Many patients need either one procedure or the other, while some benefit from both.
Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)
The shape, size, or structure of the nose can be changed with rhinoplasty, often called a nose job. It can be cosmetic, functional, or both.
Nose surgery can address concerns such as:
- A nasal bridge bump
- A nasal tip that droops
- A wide or boxy tip
- A crooked nasal shape
- Overall nose size or projection
- An uneven-looking nose
- Structural breathing concerns
For patients with breathing concerns, rhinoplasty may include work on the septum, which separates the nostrils. This part of surgery is called septoplasty. Cosmetic rhinoplasty refines how the nose looks, while functional nasal surgery focuses on breathing and airflow.
Cosmetic Ear Surgery
Ear surgery, also called otoplasty, changes the shape, position, or size of the ears. It is often used to correct ears that stick out.
Patients may consider otoplasty for:
- Ears that sit far from the head
- Uneven ear shape or position
- Ear folds that look large
- Ears positioned far from the head
- Earlobe concerns
Ear surgery can be considered for adults as well as children. For children, the timing depends on ear growth, maturity, and family goals.
Upper Lip Lift Surgery
The space between the upper lip and the nose can be shortened with a lip lift. The distance is called the upper lip length. A lip lift can improve upper lip show without adding dermal filler.
Patients may consider a lip lift for:
- Upper lip length that looks long
- Upper teeth that show less when smiling
- An upper lip that looks thin
- Lip imbalance
- Aging in the lip and mouth area
A lip lift should not be confused with lip filler. Filler adds volume. A lip lift changes upper lip position and shape.
Chin and Jawline Implant Surgery
Implants can be used to improve facial balance in the chin, cheeks, or jawline. When the chin appears small in relation to the nose or other features, chin surgery may help.
Facial implant surgery may include:
- Chin augmentation implants
- Surgical cheek implants
- Implants for the jawline
Chin surgery may be planned with rhinoplasty when the nose and chin both influence profile balance.
Fat Transfer for Facial Volume
Facial fat transfer restores volume using a patient’s own fat. Areas such as the abdomen or thighs are often used as the fat source before the fat is processed and placed into the face.
Facial fat grafting may address:
- Loss of cheek fullness
- Hollows beneath the eyes
- Lost facial volume due to aging
- Soft tissue volume loss
- Facial volume imbalance
Fat grafting may be used alone or combined with facelift surgery, eyelid surgery, or other facial procedures.
Breast Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery
Breast surgery is among the most common areas of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery in Canada. Some patients want more volume, less size, a breast lift, better symmetry, or breast restoration after cancer surgery.
Breast Enlargement Surgery
Breast augmentation surgery uses implants or fat transfer to increase breast size and shape. Breast implants may be filled with saline or silicone gel. Implant choice depends on body type, breast tissue, goals, and surgeon guidance.
Breast augmentation may address:
- Naturally smaller breast volume
- Pregnancy-related breast volume loss
- Lost breast volume after weight changes
- Breast asymmetry
- More fullness in bras or clothing
Many people worry about looking too large, obvious, or unnatural after breast augmentation. A careful surgical plan should consider chest width, skin quality, lifestyle, and long-term maintenance.
Breast Lift Surgery, Also Called Mastopexy
A breast lift, also known as mastopexy, raises and reshapes breasts that have dropped. A breast lift does not mainly increase breast volume. A breast lift is designed to improve where the breasts sit and how they are shaped.
Breast lift surgery can help improve:
- Sagging breasts
- Nipples that sit low or point down
- Areola stretching
- Stretched breast skin
- Breast changes after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss
A breast lift may be combined with implants when more upper breast fullness is desired. Other patients prefer a lift without implants for a natural result.
Breast Reduction Surgery
Extra breast tissue, fat, and skin can be removed with breast reduction to create smaller, lighter, more balanced breasts.
Breast reduction may address:
- Pain in the neck
- Heavy shoulder pressure
- Back pain
- Bra strap grooves
- Under-breast skin irritation
- Exercise discomfort
- Trouble finding clothing that fits
In Canada, breast reduction may be considered medically necessary in some cases. Health plan coverage is based on provincial rules, patient symptoms, and medical assessment.
Breast Implant Replacement or Removal
Breast implant revision is surgery to adjust or replace existing breast implants. Breast implant revision may be chosen for appearance-related reasons or medical issues.
Common breast implant revision concerns include:
- Changing breast implant size
- Rupture of an implant
- Capsular contracture, which is firm scar tissue around an implant
- Breast implant movement
- Uneven breast appearance
- Aging changes after breast augmentation
- No longer wanting breast implants
Some patients choose implant removal with a lift. New implants may be chosen with a changed size, shape, or position.
Breast Reconstruction After Cancer Surgery
After mastectomy or lumpectomy, breast reconstruction can rebuild the breast. It may use implants, natural tissue, or a combination.
Types of breast reconstruction may include:
- Implant breast reconstruction
- Breast reconstruction with natural tissue flaps
- Nipple-areola reconstruction
- Fat grafting for contour improvement
- Surgery to refine breast symmetry
This is a deeply personal choice. For some patients, reconstruction feels right. Some patients choose a flat closure instead. Both decisions deserve respect.
Male Chest Reduction Surgery
Enlarged male breast tissue may be treated with gynecomastia surgery. Liposuction, gland removal, or a combination may be used.
Gynecomastia surgery may help with:
- Puffy nipples
- Gland tissue under the areola
- Extra chest volume
- A chest that looks uneven
- Concern about the chest in fitted shirts, at the gym, or at the beach
Treatment choice depends on whether fat, gland tissue, loose skin, or a mix of these is causing the fullness.
Types of Body Contouring Surgery
Extra skin, stubborn fat, or loose tissue may be improved with body contouring surgery. Body contouring is common after changes from pregnancy, aging, or major weight loss.
Abdominoplasty, or Tummy Tuck Surgery
Extra abdominal skin and a weakened abdominal wall may be improved with a tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty. It can also repair separated abdominal muscles, known as diastasis recti.
A tummy tuck may help with:
- Loose skin on the abdomen
- A lower stomach apron
- Lower abdominal skin with stretch marks
- Separated abdominal muscles
- Abdominal changes after pregnancy or weight loss
A tummy tuck is not meant to be a weight-loss procedure. It is usually best for patients near a stable weight who want to improve abdominal shape.
Surgical Liposuction
Liposuction surgery uses a thin tube called a cannula to remove localized fat. Liposuction is meant for body contouring, not overall weight loss.
Patients may consider liposuction for:
- Abdomen
- Flank areas
- The hips
- Inner or outer thighs
- Upper arms
- Back rolls
- Submental area and neck
- Chest
- Inner knee area
Good skin tone matters. If the skin is loose, liposuction alone may not be enough. A skin-tightening or skin removal procedure may be needed in that situation.
Mommy Makeover Surgery
A mommy makeover is tailored to the patient and may treat changes from pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight change. A mommy makeover commonly includes surgery for the breasts and abdomen.
A mommy makeover can include:
- A tummy tuck procedure
- Mastopexy
- Breast augmentation
- A breast reduction procedure
- Liposuction surgery
- Fat grafting for contouring
The name can be misleading because the procedure is not limited to mothers. It is for anyone with similar body changes. Health, goals, recovery time, and future pregnancy plans all help guide the best approach.
Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
Loose upper arm skin can be removed with an arm lift, also called brachioplasty.
An arm lift may address:
- Hanging skin under the arms
- Skin laxity after weight loss
- Age-related changes in the arms
- Difficulty wearing sleeveless tops
- Skin rubbing or irritation
The improved arm shape comes with a scar along the inner or back portion of the arm. For many patients, better shape is worth the scar, but this should be discussed carefully.
Inner Thigh Lift
A thigh lift is used to remove loose skin and improve thigh shape. Thigh lift surgery is common after significant weight loss.
Common thigh lift concerns include:
- Loose skin on the inner thighs
- Rubbing in the inner thighs
- Poor clothing fit around the thighs
- A heavy feeling from extra skin
- Loose thigh skin after bariatric surgery or weight loss
Thigh lift surgery can be done with different patterns. The right option depends on the amount of skin to remove and where the looseness is located.
Body Lift Surgery
A body lift removes extra loose skin around the lower body. The procedure may improve several areas, including the abdomen, hips, outer thighs, buttocks, and lower back.
Body lift surgery may be helpful after:
- Major weight loss
- Bariatric weight-loss surgery
- Pregnancy-related skin looseness
- Age-related skin laxity
This is a more involved surgery with a longer recovery. Patients should have a stable weight and good overall health.
Fat Grafting for Body Contouring
With fat grafting, fat is removed from one area and placed in another. It may be used to add natural volume or improve contour.
Fat grafting may be used in areas such as:
- Breasts
- Buttock contour
- Hip shape
- Facial soft tissue
- Contour irregularities after injury or surgery
Fat grafting is natural in the sense that it uses your own tissue, but not all of the fat remains long term. Results can change over time, and more than one session may be needed.
Plastic Surgery for Skin and Scars
Skin surface concerns, scars, and soft tissue problems may also be treated with plastic surgery.
Scar Improvement Treatment
The look or feel of a scar may be improved with scar revision. It may not remove the scar completely, but it can make it less raised, tight, wide, or noticeable.
Scar revision surgery can help improve:
- Surgical scars
- Scarring after an injury
- Burn injury scars
- Scars that feel thick
- Restrictive scars
- Scars that affect range of motion
Scar treatment can include surgery, copyright injections, laser treatment, silicone therapy, or several methods together.
Plastic Surgery for Moles, Cysts, and Skin Lesions
Plastic surgeons often remove benign skin lesions, cysts, moles, and lumps when careful closure matters. A medical assessment may be needed for some lesions to rule out skin cancer.
Skin lesion removal may be done for:
- A lesion that gets irritated
- Growth or change
- Bleeding from the lesion
- A cosmetic concern
- Diagnosis
- Relief from discomfort
Changing moles or suspicious skin lesions should be reviewed by a qualified medical professional.
Skin Cancer Repair and Reconstruction
After skin cancer removal, reconstruction may be needed to close the wound and restore appearance. This is common on the face, nose, eyelids, ears, lips, scalp, and hands.
Skin cancer reconstruction may involve:
- Closing the area directly
- Skin graft reconstruction
- Local flaps
- Complex reconstruction
Skin cancer reconstruction aims to support safe cancer removal while protecting function and appearance.
Injectable and Skin Treatments
Not every patient needs surgery. Non-surgical options can address early aging changes, facial lines, lost volume, and skin quality. Compared with surgery, non-surgical treatments often have less downtime but need maintenance.
BOTOX and Other Neuromodulators
BOTOX and similar neuromodulators are used to relax targeted facial muscles. Neuromodulators are commonly chosen for lines caused by facial movement.
Patients may consider neuromodulators for:
- Glabellar frown lines
- Forehead expression lines
- Eye-area smile lines
- Expression lines on the nose
- Dimpling in the chin
- Neck bands for some patients
Because results are temporary, repeat treatments are usually needed. The goal is usually a softer, rested look, not a frozen face.
Dermal Filler Treatments
Dermal fillers can restore or add volume. They are often made with hyaluronic acid, a gel-like substance used to shape and support soft tissue.
Patients may consider fillers for:
- Lip shape
- Midface fullness
- Chin contour
- The jawline
- Tear trough hollowing
- Smile line folds
- Mouth-corner lines
Dermal filler results depend on product choice, injection technique, facial anatomy, and treatment goals. Overfilling may look unnatural, so conservative planning is important.
Chemical Peels
The outer layers of skin can be improved with a chemical peel using a controlled solution.
Chemical peel treatments can help improve:
- Patchy skin tone
- Tired-looking skin
- Mild lines
- Sun damage
- Mild marks from acne
- Rough skin texture
Peel strength may range from light to deeper treatments. Healing time varies based on the peel depth and type.
Laser and Energy Treatments for Skin
Skin tone, redness, texture, hair growth, scars, and aging changes may be treated with laser and energy-based treatments.
Common options may include:
- Skin laser resurfacing
- IPL skin treatment
- Radiofrequency-based treatments
- Skin tightening treatments
- Laser treatment for unwanted hair
- Vascular laser treatment for redness or broken vessels
These treatments should be matched to skin type, skin tone, and the concern being treated. For patients with darker skin tones, this is especially important because pigment changes can occur.
Microdermabrasion and Dermabrasion Treatments
Dermabrasion is a deeper skin resurfacing procedure that removes outer skin layers. Microdermabrasion is lighter and more superficial.
Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion may help with:
- Texture
- Mild scarring
- Dullness
- Surface irregularity
- Mild lines
Skin quality, goals, downtime, and risk tolerance help determine the right choice.
Finding the Right Plastic Surgery Option
The right procedure should be chosen based on the concern, not just the procedure name. It is common for patients to ask about one procedure and discover that another option may better suit their anatomy.
This can happen in situations such as:
- Heavy upper lids can be caused by extra eyelid skin, a low brow, or both.
- A soft jawline may be caused by loose skin, neck bands, fat, or chin position.
- A full belly can involve extra fat, loose skin, diastasis recti, or internal weight.
- Breasts that look flat may need lifting, added volume, fat grafting, or more than one procedure.
- Under-eye bags may be caused by fat pads, hollowing, skin laxity, or pigmentation.
A clear plastic surgery plan should answer three key questions:
- What anatomy is causing the issue?
- Which procedure treats that cause best?
- What benefits and limits come with that procedure?
These trade-offs may include scars, downtime, swelling, cost, maintenance, and possible complications.
Common Questions and Concerns Before Plastic Surgery
Before plastic surgery, many patients feel both excited and nervous. It is normal to feel excited and nervous at the same time. It is normal to worry about safety, pain, scars, recovery, cost, and whether the result will look natural.
“Will the Result Still Look Like Me?”
This is a very common worry. The goal for many people is to look refreshed while still looking like themselves. Natural-looking plastic surgery should respect facial features, body frame, age, and personal style.
A healthy goal is often improved balance instead of perfection.
“What Is the Recovery Like?”
Healing time is different for every procedure. Little or no downtime may be needed after many non-surgical treatments. A tummy tuck, body lift, or mommy makeover is more involved and needs more planning.
Plastic surgery recovery often involves:
- Bruising and swelling
- Activity limits
- Recovery time before returning to work
- Follow-up visits
- Scar care
- Slow return to workouts
- Final results that develop over time
Healing takes time. For many procedures, results continue to refine over weeks and months.
“Can Plastic Surgery Scars Be Hidden?”
Any surgery that uses an incision creates a scar. The goal is careful scar placement and strong scar healing.
The final scar can depend on:
- Your genetics
- Skin tone
- The type of procedure
- Incision placement
- How much tension is on the wound
- Whether you smoke
- Exposure to the sun
- Aftercare
Scars usually fade over time, but they do not disappear completely.
“How Safe Is Plastic Surgery?”
Every surgery has risk. Complications can include bleeding, infection, poor scarring, anesthesia problems, asymmetry, delayed healing, numbness, fluid buildup, or disappointment with the result.
A safe procedure depends on factors such as:
- Your overall health
- Your current medications
- Use of tobacco or nicotine
- The procedure selected
- Where the procedure takes place
- The anesthesia plan
- The training and experience of the surgeon
- Your aftercare and follow-up
A careful consultation should include benefits, risks, alternatives, and realistic expectations.
Plastic Surgery in Canada
Canadian plastic surgery is regulated through medical licensing, provincial colleges, hospital systems, surgical facilities, and professional standards. Patients should know the difference between marketing terms and recognized medical training.
Plastic Surgeon Credentials in Canada
When researching plastic surgery in Canada, patients should look for proper training and credentials. A plastic surgeon should have medical training, surgical training, and certification in plastic surgery.
Patients should ask:
- Are you certified in plastic surgery?
- Are you licensed to practise in this province?
- How often do you perform this procedure?
- What facility will be used for the procedure?
- Who will provide the anesthesia?
- What complications should I understand for my situation?
- What happens if I have a complication?
- What follow-up care is included?
- Can I see examples of similar cases?
This is not about challenging the surgeon. It is about knowing what to expect before moving forward.
Canadian Cosmetic Surgery Pricing
Fees for cosmetic plastic surgery in Canada can differ greatly. The final cost may include procedure complexity, surgeon experience, anesthesia, facility fees, implants or devices, garments, follow-up care, and location.
Large Canadian cities, including Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Montreal, may have higher fees because overhead and demand are higher. Costs may vary in smaller Canadian cities, but price should not outweigh safety, training, and follow-up care.
A very low price can be a warning sign if it means corners are being cut on safety, training, facility standards, or aftercare.
Medical Tourism vs. Surgery in Canada
Lower-cost surgery outside Canada may appeal to some Canadians. Medical tourism can seem attractive, but it adds risks that should be reviewed.
Concerns with medical tourism may include:
- Difficulty getting follow-up care
- Travel during early recovery
- Infection-related complications
- Different medical standards
- Hard-to-get records
- Difficulty managing complications back in Canada
- Language or translation issues
- Cost of revision surgery
Surgery closer to home can make follow-up care easier if swelling, healing concerns, or complications happen.
Getting Ready for a Plastic Surgery Consultation
A plastic surgery consultation helps clarify what is possible, safe, and realistic for your case. A consultation should not feel rushed or pressured.
Before the visit, preparation can help:
- Make notes about your main concerns.
- Prepare your medication and supplement list.
- Be ready to share your medical history.
- Be honest about smoking, vaping, cannabis use, and nicotine exposure.
- Photos may help explain your goals.
- Review recovery, scars, risks, and alternative treatments.
- Find out what result is realistic for your anatomy.
A good consultation should clearly discuss your options. Sometimes the best advice is to wait, choose a smaller treatment, improve health first, or avoid surgery.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Plastic Surgery?
Good candidates for plastic surgery are usually healthy, informed, and realistic. Realistic patients understand that surgery can help appearance, but it cannot make life perfect or solve every issue.
You may be a good candidate if:
- Your overall health is good
- You know what concern you want to address
- Your weight has been stable before body surgery
- You can follow smoking and nicotine restrictions
- You are prepared for the recovery process
- You understand the risks and can accept them
- You want the procedure for yourself
- Your goals are realistic
You may need to delay surgery if you are pregnant, planning major weight loss, using nicotine, managing an unstable medical condition, or feeling pressured by someone else.
Procedure Combinations in Plastic Surgery
Some procedures can be combined safely. In some cases, procedures should be cosmetic surgery separated into different surgeries. A combined plan may save recovery time, but it also needs careful planning because surgery time and healing demands may increase.
Examples of combined procedures include:
- Facelift with neck lift
- Eyelid surgery with a brow lift
- Nose surgery with chin surgery
- Combining breast lift and implants
- Abdominoplasty with liposuction
- Mommy makeover procedures
- Body lift with thigh or arm contouring
- Facial surgery with fat grafting
Your health, procedure length, anesthesia, recovery support, and risk level all affect the safest plan.
A Final Word on Canadian Plastic Surgery Procedures
Canadian plastic surgery includes both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. Some procedures improve the face, breasts, or body. Some procedures restore tissue after cancer, injury, burns, or medical conditions. Injectable and skin treatments may help with wrinkles, volume loss, texture concerns, and early signs of aging.
The right procedure is not always the most popular option. The best choice is the one that fits your anatomy, goals, health, and comfort level.
The strongest treatment plan should focus on safety, natural-looking results, clear expectations, and proper follow-up care. Whether the procedure is eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, liposuction, facelift surgery, or reconstructive plastic surgery, the first step is understanding what each option can and cannot do.