Across Canada, plastic surgery includes several major types of procedures that can refine, restore, or support the face and body. A procedure may be cosmetic when the main goal is to improve appearance. Reconstructive plastic surgery may be used after injury, cancer, birth differences, burns, or medical conditions to help rebuild form or function.
Canadians may look into plastic surgery for many needs. For some people, the goal is to look more rested. Body changes from pregnancy, weight loss, or aging may lead some people to consider surgery. Plastic surgery may also help after trauma, skin cancer, breast cancer, or a congenital concern. The right procedure depends on your anatomy, goals, health, lifestyle, and recovery time.
Use this guide to understand the main types of plastic surgery procedures in Canada, including facial surgery, breast surgery, body contouring, reconstructive surgery, and non-surgical cosmetic treatments. It also covers key questions to consider before a plastic surgery consultation.
Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Compared With Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
Most plastic surgery procedures fall into two broad groups, cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery.
Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery is used to improve or refine appearance. Elective cosmetic procedures are chosen by the patient and are not usually required for health reasons.
Common cosmetic goals may include:
- Improving facial balance
- Softening signs of aging
- Refining body shape
- Improving volume changes after weight loss or pregnancy
- Addressing concerns with the nose, eyelids, ears, lips, breasts, abdomen, arms, or thighs
- Supporting a better fit in clothing
- Improving self-confidence while keeping results natural-looking
Across Canada, cosmetic plastic surgery is usually paid for by the patient. Pricing may change based on procedure complexity, surgeon experience, facility costs, anesthesia, follow-up care, and location.
Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Procedures
Reconstructive plastic surgery is focused on restoring form and function. It may be used after cancer surgery, trauma, burns, infections, birth differences, or medical conditions.
Reconstructive plastic surgery may include:
- Breast reconstruction following mastectomy
- Skin cancer reconstruction after skin cancer excision
- Cleft lip or palate repair
- Reconstruction after burns
- Hand reconstruction
- Scar treatment and revision
- Wound repair
- Surgery for facial trauma repair
- Surgery for congenital differences
Provincial health plans may cover some reconstructive procedures when they are medically necessary. Procedures done only to improve appearance are usually not covered.
Common Facial Plastic Surgery Options
Facial plastic surgery may improve facial balance, soften signs of aging, and help restore a refreshed look. In many cases, the goal is not a dramatic change. The best results often look natural and balanced.
Facelift Procedure (Rhytidectomy)
Facelift surgery, or rhytidectomy, is used to improve sagging in the lower face and jawline. It can help with jowls, loose facial skin, and deeper folds around the mouth.
Patients often consider facelift surgery for:
- Jawline jowls
- Loose skin in the lower face
- Deeper smile lines
- Drooping cheek tissue
- A blurred face and neck transition
Today, facelift surgery often works on deeper support layers below the skin. By supporting deeper tissues, the result may look smoother, more natural, and longer-lasting. A facelift may be combined with a neck lift, eyelid surgery, brow lift, or facial fat grafting.
Neck Lift Surgery for Jawline and Neck Definition
Loose skin, muscle bands, and fullness under the chin may be improved with a neck lift. Platysmaplasty is the medical term for tightening the neck muscle.
Neck lift surgery can help improve:
- Muscle bands in the neck
- Sagging neck skin
- Soft jawline definition
- Under-chin fullness
- A hanging neck appearance
In some cases, the plan includes tightening both skin and muscle. Some patients may only need liposuction under the chin. In many cases, the face and neck age together, so a facelift and neck lift may be planned at the same time.
Upper and Lower Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty, improves tired-looking eyes by removing or adjusting extra skin, fat, or tissue around the eyelids.
Patients may choose upper eyelid surgery for:
- Upper lids that feel heavy
- Extra skin on the upper eyelids
- Eyes that look tired or aged
- Skin resting on the eyelashes
- Vision concerns in select medical cases
Patients may choose lower eyelid surgery for:
- Under-eye bags
- Under-eye swelling or fullness
- Loose skin under the eyes
- Shadowing beneath the lower lids
- A fatigued look that remains after sleep
Eyelid surgery is one of the most common facial procedures because small changes around the eyes can make the whole face look more rested.
Brow Lift, Also Called Forehead Lift
A low or heavy brow may be raised with a brow lift, also called a forehead lift. It can improve the upper eye area and reduce forehead heaviness.
Patients may consider a brow lift for:
- A heavy, lowered brow
- Heavy upper eyelids caused by brow descent
- Horizontal forehead lines
- Frown lines in the glabella area
- A heavy expression that seems tired or stern
Although they can affect a similar area, a brow lift is not the same as 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 one or the other, and some benefit from both.
Rhinoplasty for Nose Shape and Breathing
Rhinoplasty, often called a nose job, changes the shape, size, or structure of the nose. Rhinoplasty may focus on appearance, breathing, or both.
Common rhinoplasty concerns include:
- A bump along the bridge of the nose
- A drooping nasal tip
- A boxy nasal tip
- A nose that looks crooked
- How far the nose projects
- Nasal asymmetry
- Breathing issues related to structure
When breathing is a concern, surgery may include work on the septum, the wall between the nostrils. This is called septoplasty. Cosmetic rhinoplasty refines how the nose looks, while functional nasal surgery focuses on breathing and airflow.
Otoplasty, Also Called Ear Surgery
Ear surgery, also called otoplasty, changes the shape, position, or size of the ears. Otoplasty is often chosen for ears that stick out.
Otoplasty may address:
- Protruding ears
- Uneven ear shape or position
- Large cartilage folds in the ears
- Ears that stand out from the head
- Earlobe shape concerns
This procedure is performed for both adults and children. In children, timing depends on ear development, maturity, and family goals.
Lip Lift Surgery
A lip lift shortens the space between the upper lip and the nose. This area is known as the upper lip length. A lip lift can improve upper lip show without adding dermal filler.
A lip lift may address:
- A long upper lip
- Less upper tooth visibility with a smile
- Limited visible upper lip
- Poor lip balance
- Age-related changes around the mouth
A surgical lip lift and lip filler are different treatments. Filler is used to add volume. A lip lift changes upper lip position and shape.
Facial Implant Surgery for the Chin, Cheeks, and Jawline
Facial implants may improve balance in the chin, cheeks, or jawline. Chin surgery can improve facial profile balance when the chin looks small compared with the nose or other features.
Types of facial implant surgery may include:
- Implants for the chin
- Cheek implants
- Jawline augmentation implants
Chin surgery may be planned with rhinoplasty when the nose and chin both influence profile balance.
Fat Grafting to the Face
With facial fat grafting, fat from the patient’s own body is used to restore facial volume. Fat is usually removed from areas such as the abdomen or thighs, processed, and placed into the face.
Facial fat grafting may address:
- Hollow cheeks
- Tear trough hollowing
- Volume changes caused by aging
- Soft tissue thinning
- Facial imbalance
Fat grafting can support facial rejuvenation on its own or be combined with facelift surgery, eyelid surgery, or other facial procedures.
Types of Breast Plastic Surgery
Many patients in Canada consider breast surgery for cosmetic or reconstructive reasons. Patients may want to increase breast volume, reduce breast size, lift the breasts, improve symmetry, or restore the breast after cancer surgery.
Breast Augmentation in Canada
Breast augmentation surgery uses implants or fat transfer to increase breast size and shape. Breast augmentation may use either saline implants or silicone gel implants. Body type, breast tissue, personal goals, and surgeon guidance all help determine implant choice.
Common breast augmentation goals include:
- Small natural breast size
- Breast volume loss after pregnancy
- Lost breast volume after weight changes
- Breast asymmetry
- A fuller look in clothing
Patients often worry that breast augmentation may look too large or unnatural. Planning should account for chest width, skin quality, lifestyle, and future maintenance.
Breast Lift for Sagging Breasts
Breasts that have dropped can be raised and reshaped with a breast lift, also called mastopexy. The main purpose is not to add volume. Its main goal is better breast position and shape.
A breast lift may help with:
- Sagging breasts
- Nipples that point downward
- Areola stretching
- Extra breast skin
- Changes after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss
For patients who want more fullness, implants may be added to a breast lift. A lift without implants may be preferred by patients who do not want added implant volume.
Reduction Mammoplasty
Breast reduction removes extra breast tissue, fat, and skin to make the breasts smaller, lighter, and more balanced.
Common breast reduction concerns include:
- Neck discomfort
- Heavy shoulder pressure
- Upper back pain
- Indentations from bra straps
- Rashes under the breasts
- Limited comfort during physical activity
- Clothing fit challenges
In Canada, breast reduction may be considered medically necessary in some cases. Coverage depends on provincial rules, symptoms, and medical assessment.
Breast Implant Replacement or Removal
Surgery to adjust or replace existing breast implants is called breast implant revision. It may be needed for cosmetic reasons or medical concerns.
Common reasons for breast implant revision include:
- A change in preferred implant size
- Rupture of an implant
- Capsular contracture, a firm scar tissue response around an implant
- An implant that has moved out of position
- Uneven breast appearance
- Changes from aging after breast augmentation
- Desire to remove implants
Implant removal may be combined with a breast lift. Other patients prefer implant replacement with a new size, shape, or placement.
Breast Reconstruction Surgery
The breast may be rebuilt after mastectomy or lumpectomy with breast reconstruction. Implants, natural tissue, or a mix of both may be used for breast reconstruction.
Breast reconstruction may use:
- Implant-supported breast reconstruction
- Tissue flap reconstruction
- Nipple and areola restoration
- Breast fat grafting
- Breast reconstruction revision for symmetry
This can be a deeply personal choice. For some patients, reconstruction feels right. Some patients choose a flat closure instead. Either choice can be valid.
Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia Surgery)
Gynecomastia surgery treats enlarged breast tissue in men. Treatment may involve liposuction, gland tissue removal, or both.
Patients may consider gynecomastia surgery for:
- Puffy nipples
- Gland tissue under the areola
- Chest tissue fullness
- A chest that looks uneven
- Discomfort being shirtless, exercising, or wearing fitted shirts
A surgeon chooses the technique based on whether the chest fullness is due to fat, gland tissue, loose skin, or more than one factor.
Body Plastic Surgery Procedures
Body contouring focuses on improving shape through skin removal, fat reduction, or tissue tightening. It is often considered after pregnancy, aging, or major weight loss.
Tummy Tuck Surgery, Also Called Abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty, commonly called a tummy tuck, removes extra abdominal skin and tightens the abdominal wall. It can also repair separated abdominal muscles, known as diastasis recti.
Patients may consider a tummy tuck for:
- Sagging abdominal skin
- An overhang in the lower belly
- Stretch-marked lower belly skin
- Diastasis recti
- Body changes from pregnancy or weight loss
A tummy tuck should not be viewed as weight-loss surgery. The best candidates are often near a stable weight and want better abdominal contour.
Fat Reduction With Liposuction
Liposuction removes localized fat with a thin tube called a cannula. Liposuction is not a weight-loss method, it is a contouring procedure.
Liposuction can treat:
- Abdominal area
- Flank areas
- Outer hip area
- The thighs
- Upper arm area
- The back
- Submental area and neck
- Chest area
- Inner knee area
Good skin tone is important. Loose skin may limit what liposuction alone can achieve. In that case, skin removal surgery may be needed.
Mommy Makeover
A mommy makeover combines procedures to address body changes after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight change. Breast and abdominal procedures are often combined in a mommy makeover.
A mommy makeover may include:
- Abdominoplasty
- Breast lift surgery
- A breast augmentation procedure
- Breast reduction surgery
- Fat reduction with liposuction
- Fat grafting for contouring
The name “mommy makeover” can be misleading because similar body changes can affect many patients. The procedure can apply to anyone with similar body concerns. A safe plan depends on the patient’s health, goals, recovery time, and plans for future pregnancy.
Upper Arm Lift Procedure
An arm lift, also called brachioplasty, removes loose skin from the upper arms.
An arm lift may address:
- Hanging upper arm skin
- Skin laxity after weight loss
- Arm skin changes over time
- Feeling uncomfortable in sleeveless tops
- Irritation from loose arm skin
The trade-off is a scar along the inner or back part of the arm. For many patients, the improved shape is worth the scar, but this should be discussed carefully.
Thigh Lift
Thigh lift surgery improves thigh contour by removing loose skin. It is often chosen after major weight loss.
A thigh lift may help with:
- Extra inner thigh skin
- Thigh skin rubbing
- Poor clothing fit around the thighs
- Thigh heaviness caused by extra skin
- Thigh changes after weight loss or bariatric surgery
Different thigh lift incision patterns may be used. A surgeon chooses the pattern based on how much loose skin is present and where it is located.
Lower Body Lift
Loose skin around the lower body can be removed with a body lift. The procedure may improve several areas, including the abdomen, hips, outer thighs, buttocks, and lower back.
A body lift may be chosen after:
- A major weight change
- Surgery for weight loss
- Changes in body shape after pregnancy
- Major loose skin from aging
Because it is a larger surgery, recovery takes more time. Before a body lift, patients should be healthy overall and close to a stable weight.
Fat Transfer to the Body
Fat can be moved from one body area to another with fat grafting. It can be used to add natural volume or improve contour.
Patients may consider fat grafting for:
- Breasts
- Buttock shape
- Hips
- Face
- Contour changes after surgery or injury
Your own tissue is used in fat grafting, but not every transferred fat cell survives. Results can change over time, and more than one session may be needed.
Plastic Surgery for Skin and Scars
Beyond face, breast, and body surgery, plastic surgery may include skin, scar, and soft tissue procedures.
Scar Treatment and Revision
Scar revision can improve the appearance or feel of a scar. Scar revision may not erase a scar, but it can improve scars that are raised, tight, wide, or noticeable.
Common scar revision concerns include:
- Scars from surgery
- Injury scars
- Scars from burns
- Thickened scars
- Tight scars
- Scars that limit movement
Depending on the scar, treatment may include surgery, copyright injections, laser treatment, silicone therapy, or combined care.
Skin Lesion, Mole, and Cyst Removal
When careful closure is important, plastic surgeons may remove benign skin lesions, cysts, moles, and lumps. Some lesions require medical assessment to rule out skin cancer.
Removal may be done for:
- A lesion that gets irritated
- A lesion that is getting larger
- Bleeding from the lesion
- Cosmetic concern
- Pathology or diagnosis
- Improved comfort
Any changing mole or suspicious skin lesion should be assessed by a qualified medical professional.
Skin Cancer Repair and Reconstruction
When skin cancer is removed, plastic surgery reconstruction may help close the area and restore appearance. Skin cancer reconstruction is often needed on the face, nose, eyelids, ears, lips, scalp, and hands.
Skin cancer reconstruction may involve:
- A direct closure
- Reconstruction with a skin graft
- Reconstruction with local flaps
- A more complex repair
Skin cancer reconstruction aims to support safe cancer removal while protecting function and appearance.
Non-Surgical Cosmetic Treatments
Not all cosmetic concerns require surgery. Early signs of aging, facial lines, volume loss, and skin quality concerns may be improved with non-surgical cosmetic treatments. Most non-surgical treatments have less downtime, but the results do not last as long as surgery.
Neuromodulator Injections
BOTOX and other neuromodulators work by relaxing selected facial muscles. Neuromodulators are commonly chosen for lines caused by facial movement.
BOTOX and neuromodulators may treat:
- Frown lines
- Forehead expression lines
- Lines at the outer corners of the eyes
- Small nose wrinkles
- Dimpling in the chin
- Neck bands for some patients
The results do not last forever and usually need maintenance treatments. The goal is usually a softer, rested look, not a frozen face.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers restore or add volume. They are often made with hyaluronic acid, a gel-like substance used to shape and support soft tissue.
Common filler areas include:
- The lips
- Cheek contour
- Chin contour
- Jawline contour
- Hollowing under the eyes
- Deeper smile lines
- Lines below the corners of the mouth
Dermal filler results depend on product choice, injection technique, facial anatomy, and treatment goals. Overfilling can look unnatural, so conservative planning is important.
Chemical Peels
A chemical peel uses a controlled solution to improve the outer layers of skin.
Chemical peel treatments can help improve:
- Patchy skin tone
- Tired-looking skin
- Fine surface lines
- Sun damage
- Light acne marks
- Surface texture issues
Chemical peels can range from light treatments to deeper treatments. Recovery depends on the type of peel.
Energy-Based Aesthetic Skin Treatments
Skin tone, redness, texture, hair growth, scars, and aging changes may be treated with laser and energy-based treatments.
Common examples include:
- Resurfacing laser treatment
- IPL skin treatment
- Radiofrequency-based treatments
- Skin tightening procedures
- Hair reduction with laser
- Laser treatment for redness and broken vessels
These treatments should be matched to the patient’s skin type, skin tone, and concern. For patients with darker skin tones, this is especially important because pigment changes can occur.
Dermabrasion and Light Skin Resurfacing
Dermabrasion is a deeper skin resurfacing procedure that removes outer skin layers. Microdermabrasion is a lighter, more superficial treatment.
These treatments may help with:
- Texture
- Surface-level scars
- Dullness
- Uneven surface
- Fine surface lines
The best treatment depends on the patient’s skin quality, goals, available downtime, and comfort with risk.
Choosing a Procedure That Fits Your Goals
Choosing the right procedure starts with the concern, not the procedure name. Many patients ask for one treatment and later learn that another option better matches their anatomy.
For instance:
- Extra eyelid skin, a low brow, or both may cause heavy upper lids.
- A soft jawline can come from loose skin, neck bands, fat, or chin position.
- Abdominal fullness may come from fat, loose skin, separated muscles, or internal weight.
- Flat-looking breasts may be improved with a lift, implants, fat grafting, or a combination.
- Under-eye concerns may come from fat pads, hollows, loose skin, or pigmentation.
A helpful treatment plan should answer these three questions:
- What is behind the concern?
- Which treatment is most likely to correct the cause?
- What benefits and limits come with that procedure?
Those 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. Excitement is common, but nervousness is common too. It is normal to worry about safety, pain, scars, recovery, cost, and whether the result will look natural.
“Will I Look Refreshed or Different?”
This is one of the most common patient concerns. Most people want to look like a refreshed version of themselves, not like someone else. A natural result should match your facial features, body frame, age, and personal style.
The goal is usually to improve balance, not chase perfection.
“How Long Does Plastic Surgery Recovery Take?”
Recovery time depends on the procedure. Non-surgical treatments may need little or no downtime. A tummy tuck, body lift, or mommy makeover is more involved and needs more planning.
Plastic surgery recovery often involves:
- Temporary swelling and bruising
- Limits on activity
- Time off work
- Appointments after surgery
- Scar care
- Careful return to exercise
- Final results that take time to settle
Surgical healing is gradual. Results often look better as weeks and months pass.
“Will There Be Scars?”
Any surgical cut leaves some type of scar. A good plan places scars as carefully as possible and supports healing.
Scar quality depends on:
- Family scar tendencies
- Skin tone
- The kind of surgery performed
- Where the incision is placed
- How much tension is on the wound
- Nicotine exposure
- How much sun the scar gets
- Aftercare
Scars usually fade with time, but they do not disappear completely.
“Is Cosmetic Surgery Safe?”
No surgery is completely risk-free. 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
- Smoking or nicotine use
- Which surgery is performed
- The facility where surgery is done
- The anesthesia approach
- The surgeon’s skill, training, and experience
- Your post-operative care
A careful consultation should include benefits, risks, alternatives, and realistic expectations.
Important Plastic Surgery Information for Canadian Patients
Across Canada, plastic surgery is overseen through licensing, provincial colleges, hospital systems, surgical facilities, and professional standards. Patients should not rely only on marketing terms, because recognized medical training matters.
Choosing a Plastic Surgeon in Canada
When researching plastic surgery in Canada, look for proper training and credentials. The surgeon should plastic surgery procedures have medical training, surgical training, and certification in the specialty of plastic surgery.
Patients should ask:
- Are you certified as a plastic surgeon?
- Are you licensed to practise medicine in this province?
- Do you perform this procedure often?
- What facility will be used for the procedure?
- Who provides 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 results from similar cases?
This is not about being difficult. It is about making an informed choice.
Canadian Cosmetic Surgery Pricing
Cosmetic surgery costs in Canada can vary widely. 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. Smaller markets may offer different pricing, but cost alone should not guide the decision.
Low pricing can be concerning when it reflects shortcuts in safety, training, facility standards, or aftercare.
Surgery Abroad vs. Plastic Surgery in Canada
Some patients in Canada consider medical tourism to save money on surgery. Medical tourism can seem attractive, but it adds risks that should be reviewed.
Medical tourism concerns may include:
- Limited post-surgery follow-up
- Travel soon after surgery
- Infection-related complications
- Different surgical standards
- Challenges getting procedure records
- Complications that are harder to manage back in Canada
- Possible language barriers
- Additional costs if revision surgery is needed
Having surgery closer to home can make follow-up easier, especially if swelling, healing concerns, or complications occur.
Plastic Surgery Consultation Preparation
During a consultation, you can learn what is possible, what is safe, and what results are realistic. A consultation should not feel rushed or pressured.
Before your visit, it helps to prepare:
- Write down the main concerns you want to discuss.
- Bring a list of your medications and supplements.
- Share your medical history.
- Do not hide smoking, vaping, cannabis, or nicotine use.
- Bring photos if they help explain your goals.
- Discuss recovery, scarring, risks, and other options.
- Ask what can realistically be achieved for your face or body.
A strong consultation includes clear discussion of treatment options. A responsible plan may involve waiting, starting with a smaller treatment, improving health, or deciding against surgery.
Who May Be a Good Candidate?
Plastic surgery candidates should usually be healthy, informed, and realistic. Plastic surgery can improve appearance, but good candidates know it cannot create perfection or solve every concern.
You may be a good candidate if:
- You are medically well enough for surgery
- You know what concern you want to address
- Your weight has been stable before body surgery
- You can follow smoking and nicotine restrictions
- You understand what recovery involves
- You understand the risks and can accept them
- The choice is based on your own goals
- Your expectations are realistic
Surgery may need to wait if you are pregnant, planning major weight loss, using nicotine, managing an unstable medical condition, or feeling pressured by another person.
Planning More Than One Plastic Surgery Procedure
Certain procedures can be safely combined. Some procedures are safer when staged. Combining procedures may reduce total recovery time, but it may also increase surgical time and healing demands.
Common combined surgery plans include:
- Lower face and neck rejuvenation
- Upper facial rejuvenation with eyelid surgery and brow lift
- Nose surgery with chin surgery
- Mastopexy with augmentation
- Tummy tuck with liposuction
- Mommy makeover procedures
- Combining body lift with arm or thigh surgery
- Facial surgery with fat grafting
The right approach depends on the patient’s health, how long the procedure takes, anesthesia, recovery support, and overall risk.
Summary of Plastic Surgery Procedures in Canada
Plastic surgery in Canada includes a wide range of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. Some procedures improve the face, breasts, or body. Some procedures restore tissue after cancer, injury, burns, or medical conditions. Non-surgical treatments can also help with wrinkles, volume loss, skin texture, and early aging changes.
The right procedure is not always the most popular option. The right option should match your anatomy, goals, health, and comfort level.
Every plastic surgery plan should put safety, natural-looking results, clear expectations, and proper follow-up care first. For procedures such as eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, liposuction, facelift surgery, or reconstructive plastic surgery, the first step is education about benefits and limits.