A Guide to Plastic Surgery Procedures in Canada

Across Canada, plastic surgery includes several major types of procedures that can change, restore, or support the face and body. Some procedures are known as cosmetic, meaning they are chosen to improve how a person looks. Reconstructive plastic surgery may be used after injury, cancer, birth differences, burns, or medical conditions to help restore form or function.

Plastic surgery searches in Canada often come from many personal reasons. Some want to look more rested. For others, the goal is to restore body shape after pregnancy, weight loss, or aging. Other patients need help after 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. 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

The main focus of cosmetic plastic surgery is appearance. Most cosmetic procedures are elective, which means they are planned by choice rather than medical need.

Common goals include:

Improving facial balance
Softening signs of aging
Improving body shape
Restoring lost volume after pregnancy or weight loss
Changing the shape of the nose, eyelids, ears, lips, breasts, abdomen, arms, or thighs
Helping clothing fit better
Supporting confidence with natural-looking changes

Across Canada, cosmetic plastic surgery is usually paid for by the patient. Fees can vary based on the procedure, surgeon, facility, anesthesia, follow-up care, and location.

What Is Reconstructive Plastic Surgery?

In reconstructive plastic surgery, the focus is on restoring form, function, or both. Reconstructive procedures may be recommended after cancer surgery, trauma, burns, infections, birth differences, or medical conditions.

Common reconstructive procedures include:

Breast reconstruction after a mastectomy
Skin cancer reconstruction following tumour removal
Cleft lip and palate surgery
Burn scar reconstruction
Reconstructive hand surgery
Surgical scar revision
Wound repair
Repair after facial trauma
Correction of congenital concerns

Some reconstructive plastic surgery may qualify for provincial coverage if it is considered medically necessary. Purely cosmetic changes are usually paid for privately.

Common Facial Plastic Surgery Options

Facial plastic surgery can improve facial balance, soften signs of aging, and restore a refreshed look. In many cases, the goal is not a dramatic change. Strong results usually look natural, balanced, and personal to the patient.

Facelift Procedure (Rhytidectomy)

A facelift or rhytidectomy can improve loose tissue in the lower face and jawline. It may help with jowls, loose facial skin, and deeper folds around the mouth.

Common facelift concerns include:

Sagging jowls along the jawline
Loose lower facial skin
Deep smile lines
Drooping cheek tissue
Less clear separation between the face and neck

Modern facelift surgery often treats deeper support layers below the skin. This may create a smoother, longer-lasting result without a pulled appearance. Depending on the patient, a facelift may be planned with a neck lift, eyelid surgery, brow lift, or facial fat grafting.

Neck Lift Surgery (Platysmaplasty)

A neck lift can improve loose skin, muscle bands, and fullness under the chin. The clinical term for tightening the neck muscle is platysmaplasty.

Patients may consider a neck lift for:

Prominent neck bands
Neck skin laxity
A jawline that looks less defined
Submental fullness
A loose “turkey neck” appearance

Some patients benefit from both skin and muscle tightening. Others may benefit from liposuction under the chin. Because the face and neck often age together, a facelift and neck lift may be planned together.

Blepharoplasty, or Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty helps refresh the eyes by removing or repositioning extra skin, fat, or tissue around the eyelids.

Upper blepharoplasty may help with:

Heaviness in the upper eyelids
Redundant upper eyelid skin
A tired or aged look
Skin that sits on the eyelashes
Vision concerns in some medical cases

Patients may choose lower eyelid surgery for:

Bags under the eyes
Under-eye swelling or fullness
Loose skin under the eyes
Shadowing beneath the lower lids
Eyes that still look tired after rest

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 Surgery for a Heavy Brow

A brow lift, also known as a forehead lift, raises a low or heavy brow. It can improve the upper eye area and reduce forehead heaviness.

Patients may consider a brow lift for:

Low or drooping eyebrows
Heavy upper eyelids caused by brow descent
Lines across the forehead
Frown lines between the brows
A tired, sad, or stern look

Brow lift surgery and eyelid surgery are not the same procedure. Eyelid surgery addresses extra eyelid skin, while a brow lift changes the position of the eyebrows. A consultation can help decide whether eyelid surgery, a brow lift, or both is the better fit.

Cosmetic and Functional Rhinoplasty

The shape, size, or structure of the nose can be changed with rhinoplasty, often called a nose job. Rhinoplasty may focus on appearance, breathing, or both.

Nose surgery can address concerns such as:

A bump along the bridge of the nose
A downward-pointing nasal tip
A broad or boxy tip
Nasal crookedness
How far the nose projects
Nose asymmetry
Airflow issues caused by nasal structure

If breathing is part of the problem, the septum, which is the wall between the nostrils, may need treatment. The medical term for septum surgery is septoplasty. A cosmetic rhinoplasty changes appearance, while functional nasal surgery focuses on airflow.

Otoplasty for Prominent Ears

Ear surgery, also known as otoplasty, changes the shape, position, or size of the ears. It is often used to correct ears that stick out.

Otoplasty may help with:

Prominent ears
Uneven ear shape or position
Large cartilage folds in the ears
Ears positioned far from the head
Earlobe appearance concerns

Both adults and children may choose or need otoplasty. For children, timing depends on ear growth, maturity, and family goals.

Lip Lift for Upper Lip Balance

A lip lift is designed to shorten the space between the upper lip and the nose. This space is called the upper lip length. A lip lift can improve upper lip show without adding dermal filler.

Lip lift surgery can help improve:

A long space between the nose and upper lip
Upper teeth that show less when smiling
Limited visible upper lip
Lip proportions that feel unbalanced
Age-related changes around the mouth

A lip lift is different from lip filler. Dermal filler increases volume. A lip lift changes upper lip position and shape.

Facial Implants for Balance

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.

Common facial implant procedures include:

Chin augmentation implants
Cheek implants
Jawline implants

For profile balance, chin surgery and rhinoplasty may be combined in select cases.

Facial Fat Grafting

A patient’s own fat can be used in facial fat grafting to restore volume. Fat is usually taken from areas such as the abdomen or thighs, processed, and placed into the face.

Fat grafting to the face can help improve:

Hollow cheeks
Hollowing under the eyes
Volume loss after aging
Thin facial soft tissue
Imbalance in facial volume

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 one of the most common areas of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery in Canada. Patients may want to increase volume, reduce size, lift the breasts, improve symmetry, or restore the breast 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. The choice of implant depends on body type, breast tissue, goals, and surgeon guidance.

Breast augmentation surgery can help improve:

Small natural breast size
Breast volume loss after pregnancy
Weight-related breast volume loss
Breast asymmetry
A fuller look in clothing

Many people worry about looking too large, obvious, or unnatural after breast augmentation. A natural-looking plan should consider chest width, skin quality, lifestyle, and long-term maintenance.

Mastopexy, or Breast Lift Surgery

Breasts that have dropped can be raised and reshaped with a breast lift, also called mastopexy. It does not mainly add volume. Instead, the goal is to improve breast position and shape.

A breast lift may help with:

Breasts that sag
Nipple descent
Areola stretching
Breast skin laxity
Changes after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss

Some patients choose a breast lift with implants for more upper breast fullness. A lift without implants may be preferred by patients who do not want added implant volume.

Breast Reduction Procedure

Extra breast tissue, fat, and skin can be removed with breast reduction to create smaller, lighter, more balanced breasts.

Breast reduction surgery can help improve:

Neck pain
Pain in the shoulders
Upper back pain
Bra strap grooves
Under-breast skin irritation
Trouble exercising
Problems with clothing fit

In Canada, breast reduction may be considered medically necessary for some patients. Provincial rules, symptoms, and medical assessment all affect coverage.

Breast Implant Replacement or Removal

Surgery to adjust or replace existing breast implants is called breast implant revision. Patients may need it for cosmetic goals or medical concerns.

Common reasons include:

A desire to change implant size
Rupture of an implant
Capsular contracture, a firm scar tissue response around an implant
Implant shifting
Uneven breast appearance
Changes from aging after breast augmentation
Breast implant removal

Implant removal may be combined with a breast lift. Other patients choose new implants with a different size, shape, or placement.

Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction rebuilds the breast after mastectomy or lumpectomy. Breast reconstruction can use implants, natural tissue, or both.

Breast reconstruction options may include:

Breast reconstruction with implants
Breast reconstruction with natural tissue flaps
Nipple-areola reconstruction
Fat grafting for contour improvement
Symmetry-focused revision surgery

The choice around breast reconstruction is personal. Many patients want breast reconstruction. Other people prefer to remain flat. Both paths are valid and personal.

Male Chest Reduction Surgery

Gynecomastia surgery treats enlarged male breast tissue. The procedure may use liposuction, gland removal, or both methods.

Gynecomastia surgery may help with:

Nipple puffiness
Extra tissue under the areola
Fullness in the chest
Uneven shape across the male chest
Concern about the chest in fitted shirts, at the gym, or at the beach

The best technique depends on whether the fullness is caused by fat, gland tissue, loose skin, or a mix of these.

Body Contouring Plastic Surgery Procedures

Body contouring surgery improves body shape by removing extra skin, reducing stubborn fat, or tightening tissue. Many patients consider body contouring after pregnancy, aging, or major weight loss.

Abdominoplasty for Abdominal Contouring

A tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty, removes extra abdominal skin and tightens the abdominal wall. Separated abdominal muscles, called diastasis recti, can also be repaired during the procedure.

A tummy tuck may help with:

Sagging abdominal skin
A lower belly overhang
Stretch-marked lower belly skin
Abdominal muscle separation
Changes after pregnancy or weight loss

A tummy tuck is not a weight-loss procedure. Patients usually do best when they are close to a stable weight and want to improve abdominal shape.

Liposuction for Body Contouring

A cannula, which is a thin tube, is used in liposuction to remove localized fat. Liposuction is not a weight-loss method, it is a contouring procedure.

Liposuction may treat:

Stomach area
Side waist areas, often called love handles
The hips
The thighs
Upper arms
Back contour areas
Submental area and neck
Chest area
The knees

Good skin tone is important. Loose skin may limit what liposuction alone can achieve. Skin removal surgery may be needed if loose skin is the main concern.

Post-Pregnancy Body Contouring

A mommy makeover is tailored to the patient and may treat changes from pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight change. It often includes both breast and abdominal procedures.

Common mommy makeover procedures include:

Tummy tuck surgery
Mastopexy
Surgical breast enhancement
Reduction mammoplasty
Fat reduction with liposuction
Fat transfer for volume

The name “mommy makeover” can be misleading because similar body changes can affect many patients. It is for anyone with similar body changes. The best plan depends on health, goals, recovery time, and whether future pregnancy is planned.

Arm Lift Surgery, Also Called Brachioplasty

An arm lift or brachioplasty improves upper arm shape by removing loose skin.

Patients may consider an arm lift for:

Hanging skin under the arms
Weight-loss-related arm skin looseness
Aging-related arm laxity
Difficulty wearing sleeveless tops
Skin friction in the upper arms

The improved arm shape comes with a scar along the inner or back portion of the arm. The scar may be worthwhile for patients who want better arm shape, but it should be reviewed carefully.

Thigh Lift Procedure

Thigh lift surgery improves thigh contour by removing loose skin. It is often chosen after major weight loss.

Patients may consider a thigh lift for:

Loose inner thigh skin
Skin friction between the thighs
Pants that do not fit well
Heaviness from extra skin
Loose thigh skin after bariatric surgery or weight loss

Different thigh lift incision patterns may be used. The best thigh lift pattern depends on skin amount and the location of the looseness.

Body Lift After Weight Loss

A body lift removes loose skin around the lower body. It may improve the abdomen, hips, outer thighs, buttocks, and lower back.

A body lift may be chosen after:

Major weight loss
Post-bariatric body changes
Post-pregnancy body changes
Aging changes with loose skin

A body lift is a larger procedure and usually has a longer recovery. A stable weight and good overall health are important before body lift surgery.

Fat Grafting for Body Contouring

Fat transfer, also called fat grafting, moves fat from one part of the body to another. Fat grafting can add natural volume or refine body contour.

Common areas for fat grafting include:

Breasts
Buttock shape
Hips
Facial contour
Contour irregularities after surgery or injury

Fat grafting uses your own tissue, but not all transferred fat survives. Because transferred fat can change over time, 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.

Surgical Scar Revision

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:

Surgery-related scars
Injury-related scars
Burn injury scars
Thickened scars
Scars that limit comfort
Scars that restrict motion

Scar treatment can include surgery, copyright injections, laser treatment, silicone therapy, or several methods together.

Mole, Cyst, and Skin Lesion Removal

When careful closure is important, plastic surgeons may remove benign skin lesions, cysts, moles, and lumps. Some lesions need medical assessment to rule out skin cancer.

Common reasons for removal include:

A lesion that gets irritated
Growth or change
Bleeding from the lesion
Appearance concerns
A need for diagnosis
Physical comfort

Changing moles or suspicious skin lesions should be reviewed by a qualified medical professional.

Skin Cancer 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.

Reconstruction after skin cancer may include:

Closing the area directly
Reconstruction with a skin graft
A local flap
More complex reconstruction

The aesthetic surgery priority is safe cancer removal, with function and appearance preserved as much as possible.

Non-Surgical Cosmetic Treatments

Not all cosmetic concerns require surgery. Non-surgical options can address early aging changes, facial lines, lost volume, and skin quality. These treatments usually involve less downtime, but results are more temporary.

BOTOX Cosmetic Treatments

Neuromodulators such as BOTOX reduce movement in selected facial muscles. They are often used for expression lines.

Patients may consider neuromodulators for:

Expression lines between the brows
Forehead expression lines
Outer eye wrinkles
Small nose wrinkles
Chin dimpling
Mild neck bands in certain cases

The results do not last forever and usually need maintenance treatments. Treatment should often create a softer, more rested look instead of a frozen appearance.

Dermal Fillers

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.

Fillers may treat:

Lip enhancement
Midface fullness
Chin shape
Jawline definition
Hollows beneath the eyes
Lines from the nose to the mouth
Marionette folds

Filler results depend on product choice, injection technique, facial anatomy, and treatment goals. Too much filler can look unnatural, which makes conservative planning important.

Skin Peels

Chemical peel treatment uses a controlled solution to refresh the outer skin layers.

Common chemical peel concerns include:

Uneven tone
A dull complexion
Small fine lines
Skin changes from sun exposure
Light acne marks
Uneven texture

The strength of a peel may be light, medium, or deeper depending on the goal. Healing time varies based on the peel depth and type.

Laser and Energy-Based Skin Treatments

Laser and energy-based treatments can improve skin tone, redness, texture, hair growth, scars, and signs of aging.

Common treatment options may include:

Laser skin resurfacing
IPL skin treatment
Radiofrequency energy treatments
Skin tightening procedures
Laser-based hair reduction
Vascular laser for redness or broken vessels

The right laser or energy treatment depends on skin type, skin tone, and the concern. This is especially important for patients with darker skin tones because pigment changes can be a risk.

Dermabrasion and Light Skin Resurfacing

Dermabrasion is a deeper resurfacing procedure that removes outer skin layers. Microdermabrasion is a lighter, more superficial treatment.

Common concerns include:

Texture
Minor acne scarring
Tired-looking skin
Surface irregularity
Small fine lines

The right option depends on skin quality, goals, downtime, and risk tolerance.

How to Choose the Right Plastic Surgery Procedure

The right procedure should be chosen based on the concern, not just the procedure name. Many patients come in asking for one treatment, then learn that another option better matches their anatomy.

This can happen in situations such as:

A heavy upper eyelid look may come from extra eyelid skin, brow descent, or both.
An undefined jawline may be caused by loose skin, neck muscle bands, fat, or the position of the chin.
A full belly can involve extra fat, loose skin, diastasis recti, or internal weight.
A flat breast shape may be treated with a breast lift, breast augmentation, fat grafting, or a combined plan.
Under-eye bags can be caused by fat pads, hollowing, skin laxity, or pigmentation.

A clear plastic surgery plan should answer three key questions:

What is behind the concern?
Which option is the best match for that cause?
What must be accepted with that option?

Every procedure has trade-offs, which may include scars, downtime, swelling, cost, maintenance, and possible complications.

Plastic Surgery Fears and Questions

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 natural-looking results.

“Will I Look Refreshed or Different?”

This is one of the most common concerns. Most people want to look like a refreshed version of themselves, not like someone else. Good plastic surgery should respect the patient’s natural features, body frame, age, and style.

Plastic surgery should often improve balance rather than chase perfection.

“How Long Is the Recovery?”

Downtime varies by procedure. Some non-surgical treatments have little or no downtime. A tummy tuck, body lift, or mommy makeover is more involved and needs more planning.

Plastic surgery recovery often involves:

Bruising and swelling
Limits on activity
Time off work
Post-operative follow-up visits
Scar healing support
A gradual return to exercise
Final results that develop over time

Recovery does not happen instantly. For many procedures, results continue to refine over weeks and months.

“Will I Have Scars?”

Any surgical cut leaves some type of scar. The goal is not scar-free surgery, but careful scar placement and good healing.

Scar healing depends on:

How your body naturally scars
Pigment response in the skin
The type of procedure
Placement of the incision
Tension along the incision
Smoking and vaping status
Sun exposure
How the scar is cared for

A scar often becomes less noticeable over time, but it will not vanish completely.

“What Should I Know About Plastic Surgery Safety?”

All surgical procedures carry some risk. Patients should understand possible risks such as bleeding, infection, poor scarring, anesthesia issues, asymmetry, delayed healing, numbness, fluid buildup, and dissatisfaction.

Many factors affect plastic surgery safety, including:

The patient’s health
Your medications
Whether you smoke or use nicotine
The procedure being done
The surgical facility
The type of anesthesia
The surgeon’s training and experience
Care after the procedure

A careful consultation should review benefits, risks, alternatives, and realistic expectations.

Plastic Surgery in Canada

Across Canada, plastic surgery is overseen through licensing, provincial colleges, hospital systems, surgical facilities, and professional standards. Patients should understand the difference between marketing terms and recognized medical training.

Choosing a Qualified Plastic Surgeon

If you are researching plastic surgery in Canada, look closely at training and credentials. Proper plastic surgery training includes medical training, surgical training, and specialty certification in plastic surgery.

Patients may want to ask:

Are you certified as a plastic surgeon?
Are you licensed to perform surgery in this province?
Is this a procedure you perform regularly?
What facility will be used for the procedure?
Who will provide the anesthesia?
What complications should I understand for my situation?
How are complications handled?
What follow-up care is included?
Do you have examples of patients with similar concerns?

These questions are not meant to be difficult. It is about making an informed choice.

Cost of Cosmetic Surgery in Canada

The cost of cosmetic surgery in Canada can vary a lot. Many factors affect pricing, including procedure complexity, surgeon experience, anesthesia, facility fees, implants or devices, garments, follow-up care, and location.

Overhead and demand may increase fees in major Canadian centres such as Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Montreal. Pricing may be different in smaller cities, but the lowest cost should not be the main deciding factor.

If a very low price means less attention to safety, training, facility standards, or aftercare, it can be a warning sign.

Medical Tourism Compared With Plastic Surgery in Canada

Some Canadians consider travelling outside the country for lower-cost surgery. Medical tourism can seem attractive, but it adds risks that should be reviewed.

Possible concerns with surgery abroad include:

Limited follow-up care
Travelling before healing is complete
Risk of infection
Different surgical standards
Difficulty accessing medical records
Challenges managing post-surgery problems in Canada
Language barriers
Cost of revision surgery

Having surgery closer to home may make follow-up easier, especially if swelling, healing concerns, or complications occur.

Plastic Surgery Consultation Preparation

Your consultation is the time to understand what can be done safely and realistically. The process should feel informative, not rushed or pressured.

It helps to prepare before your consultation:

Prepare a short list of your main concerns.
Take a list of all medications and supplements you use.
Be ready to share your medical history.
Share whether you smoke, vape, use cannabis, or use nicotine.
Reference photos can be helpful if they explain your goals.
Discuss recovery, scarring, risks, and other options.
Ask what can realistically be achieved for your face or body.

A helpful consultation should explain your options clearly. Sometimes the best advice is to wait, choose a smaller treatment, improve health first, or avoid surgery altogether.

Good Candidates for Plastic Surgery

A good candidate is usually someone who is healthy, informed, and realistic. A good candidate understands that surgery may improve appearance, but it cannot create perfection or fix every life problem.

You may be a good candidate if:

You are in good general health
Your goals are based on a clear concern
Your weight is stable if you are considering body surgery
You do not smoke or can stop before and after surgery
You know what to expect during recovery
You accept the risks and trade-offs
The choice is based on your own goals
You understand what is 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.

Combining Plastic Surgery Procedures

It may be safe to combine some procedures. In some cases, procedures should be separated into different surgeries. Doing more than one procedure at once may shorten total recovery, but it can increase surgery length and healing stress.

Common procedure combinations include:

Facelift with neck lift
Upper facial rejuvenation with eyelid surgery and brow lift
Nose surgery with chin surgery
Breast lift with breast augmentation
Abdominoplasty with liposuction
Mommy makeover surgery combinations
Body lift plus thigh or arm contouring
Facial surgery with fat grafting

The safest plan depends on health, procedure length, anesthesia, recovery support, and risk level.

Final Thoughts on Types of Plastic Surgery Procedures in Canada

Canadian plastic surgery includes both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. Some procedures improve the face, breasts, or body. Others repair 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 best procedure is not always the procedure people ask about first. The best plan is based on anatomy, goals, health, and personal comfort.

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.