Plastic surgery includes many treatments that can refine, repair, or improve the face and body. Cosmetic procedures are usually chosen to refine appearance. When plastic surgery helps repair form or function after injury, cancer, birth differences, burns, or medical conditions, it is called reconstructive surgery.
People across Canada consider plastic surgery for many different concerns. Some want to look more rested. Others want to restore body shape after pregnancy, weight loss, or aging. Others want help after trauma, skin cancer, breast cancer, or a congenital concern. The best procedure depends on your anatomy, goals, health, lifestyle, and available recovery time.
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. You will also learn what to think about before scheduling a consultation.
Cosmetic Plastic Surgery vs. Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
In general, plastic surgery is grouped into cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery.
What Is Cosmetic Plastic Surgery?
Cosmetic plastic surgery focuses on appearance. Elective cosmetic procedures are chosen by the patient and are not usually required for health reasons.
Patients often choose cosmetic surgery to help with:
- Creating better facial balance
- Reducing signs of aging
- Creating a more balanced body shape
- Restoring volume after weight loss or pregnancy
- Changing the shape of the nose, eyelids, ears, lips, breasts, abdomen, arms, or thighs
- Improving the way clothing fits
- Creating natural-looking changes that may support confidence
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 Procedures
In reconstructive plastic surgery, the focus is on restoring form, function, or both. It may be used after cancer surgery, trauma, burns, infections, birth differences, or medical conditions.
Examples of reconstructive plastic surgery include:
- Breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery
- Skin cancer reconstruction after skin cancer excision
- Repair of cleft lip and palate
- Reconstruction after burns
- Reconstructive hand surgery
- Surgical scar revision
- Repair of wounds
- Facial trauma reconstruction
- Repair of congenital differences
When reconstructive procedures are medically necessary, some may be covered by a provincial health plan. 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. The goal is usually not to look “different.” The best facial surgery results often look natural and balanced.
Facelift Surgery (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.
Common facelift concerns include:
- Jawline jowls
- Lower-face loose skin
- Deep facial folds near the mouth
- Descent of cheek tissue
- Loss of definition between the face and neck
Modern facelift surgery often treats deeper support layers below the skin. This approach may help produce a smoother, longer-lasting result without making the face look pulled. 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
Neck lift surgery may treat loose skin, visible muscle bands, and fullness below the chin. When the neck muscle is tightened, the procedure is called platysmaplasty.
A neck lift may address:
- Vertical neck bands
- Extra neck skin
- A soft or undefined jawline
- Submental fullness
- A hanging neck appearance
Some patients benefit from both skin and muscle tightening. Other patients may benefit from liposuction under the chin. A facelift and neck lift are often planned together because the face and neck commonly age as a unit.
Eyelid Surgery for Tired-Looking Eyes
Eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty, improves tired-looking eyes by removing or adjusting extra skin, fat, or tissue around the eyelids.
Upper eyelid surgery can address:
- Heavy upper eyelids
- Redundant upper eyelid skin
- A more tired or older eye appearance
- Extra skin that sits against the eyelashes
- Vision concerns in some medical cases
Lower eyelid surgery may help with:
- Under-eye puffiness or bags
- Puffiness
- Extra skin below the eyes
- Under-eye shadowing
- 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, Also Called Forehead Lift
A low or heavy brow may be raised with a brow lift, also called a forehead lift. By lifting the brow, the procedure may improve the upper eyes and soften forehead heaviness.
A brow lift may help with:
- Low or drooping eyebrows
- Heavy upper eyelids caused by brow descent
- Lines across the forehead
- Vertical lines between the brows
- A tired, sad, or stern look
A brow lift should not be confused with eyelid surgery. Extra eyelid skin is treated with eyelid surgery, while eyebrow position is treated with a brow lift. Depending on anatomy, a patient may need one procedure, the other, or both.
Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)
Rhinoplasty, often called a nose job, changes the shape, size, or structure of the nose. It can be cosmetic, functional, or both.
Patients may consider rhinoplasty for:
- A dorsal hump on the nose
- Tip droop
- A wide or boxy tip
- Nasal crookedness
- How far the nose projects
- Nasal asymmetry
- Nasal breathing concerns linked to anatomy
For patients with breathing concerns, rhinoplasty may include work on the septum, which separates the nostrils. That procedure is known as septoplasty. Appearance is the focus of cosmetic rhinoplasty, while airflow is the focus of functional nasal surgery.
Ear Surgery Procedure (Otoplasty)
Ear surgery, also called otoplasty, changes the shape, position, or size of the ears. It is commonly used to correct ears that stick out.
Common otoplasty concerns include:
- Prominent ears
- Ear asymmetry
- Ear folds that look large
- Ears that stand out from the head
- Earlobe concerns
This procedure is common for adults and children. For younger patients, ear growth, maturity, and family goals help guide timing.
Upper Lip Lift Surgery
A lip lift reduces the space between the upper lip and the nose. This area is known as the upper lip length. The procedure may make the upper lip look more visible without adding filler.
Patients may consider a lip lift for:
- A long upper lip
- Upper teeth that show less when smiling
- An upper lip that looks thin
- Lip proportions that feel unbalanced
- Aging in the lip and mouth area
A surgical lip lift and lip filler are different treatments. Filler adds volume. A lip lift changes upper lip position and shape.
Facial Implants for Balance
Facial implant surgery can refine the chin, cheeks, or jawline for better balance. Chin surgery may be used when the chin looks small compared with the nose or other facial features.
Facial implants may involve:
- Chin implant surgery
- Cheek augmentation implants
- Implants for the jawline
In some cases, chin surgery may be combined with rhinoplasty because the nose and chin affect facial balance in profile view.
Facial Fat Grafting
A patient’s own fat can be used in facial fat grafting to restore volume. The process usually involves taking fat from the abdomen or thighs, processing it, and placing it into selected facial areas.
Fat grafting to the face can help improve:
- Hollow cheeks
- Under-eye volume loss
- Lost facial volume due to aging
- Thin facial soft tissue
- Imbalance in facial volume
Fat grafting can support facial rejuvenation on its own or be combined with facelift surgery, eyelid surgery, or other facial procedures.
Breast Plastic Surgery Procedures
Breast surgery is one of the most common areas of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery in Canada. Breast procedures may increase volume, reduce size, lift the breasts, improve symmetry, or restore breast shape after cancer surgery.
Breast Augmentation Surgery
Breast augmentation improves breast size and shape using implants or fat transfer. Breast implants may be saline or silicone gel. The right implant option is based on body type, breast tissue, goals, and professional surgical guidance.
Breast augmentation may help with:
- Breasts that are naturally small
- Pregnancy-related breast volume loss
- Lost breast volume after weight changes
- Breasts that do not match well
- A desire for more breast fullness in clothing
Patients often worry about looking too large or unnatural. A careful plan should consider chest width, skin quality, lifestyle, and long-term maintenance.
Breast Lift Surgery, Also Called Mastopexy
Breasts that have dropped can be raised and reshaped with a breast lift, also called mastopexy. A lift changes body contouring position and shape rather than mainly adding volume. Instead, the goal is to improve breast position and shape.
Breast lift surgery can help improve:
- Sagging breasts
- Nipples that sit low or point down
- Stretched areolas
- Loose skin on the breasts
- Breast shape changes from pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss
Some patients choose a breast lift with implants for more upper breast fullness. Other patients prefer a lift without implants for a natural result.
Breast Reduction
Breast reduction removes excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to make the breasts smaller, lighter, and more balanced.
Breast reduction may address:
- Neck pain
- Shoulder discomfort
- Pain in the back
- Bra strap grooves
- Rashes under the breasts
- Limited comfort during physical activity
- Problems with clothing fit
In certain Canadian cases, breast reduction may qualify as medically necessary. Coverage depends on provincial rules, symptoms, and medical assessment.
Breast Implant Revision Procedure
Existing breast implants may be adjusted or replaced with breast implant revision. Breast implant revision may be chosen for appearance-related reasons or medical issues.
Breast implant revision may be needed for:
- Changing breast implant size
- A ruptured implant
- Capsular contracture, which is firm scar tissue around an implant
- An implant that has moved out of position
- Breast size or shape imbalance
- Natural aging changes after breast implants
- No longer wanting breast implants
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 restores breast shape after mastectomy or lumpectomy. Implants, natural tissue, or a mix of both may be used for breast reconstruction.
Types of breast reconstruction may include:
- Implant breast reconstruction
- Flap-based reconstruction
- Nipple and areola restoration
- Fat grafting
- Symmetry-focused revision surgery
This can be a deeply personal choice. Many patients want breast reconstruction. Some patients decide not to rebuild the breast and remain flat. Both options are valid.
Gynecomastia Surgery
Gynecomastia surgery is used to reduce enlarged male breast tissue. It may involve liposuction, gland removal, or both.
Male breast reduction can help improve:
- Puffy-looking nipples
- Fullness under the areola
- Extra chest volume
- Male chest asymmetry
- Feeling self-conscious at the beach, gym, or in fitted shirts
The cause of fullness, whether fat, gland tissue, loose skin, or a mix, guides the best technique.
Body Plastic Surgery Procedures
Body contouring surgery improves shape by removing extra skin, reducing stubborn fat, or tightening tissue. Pregnancy, aging, and major weight loss are common reasons people consider body contouring.
Abdominoplasty for Abdominal Contouring
A tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty, removes extra abdominal skin and tightens the abdominal wall. The procedure may also repair diastasis recti, which means separated abdominal muscles.
A tummy tuck may help with:
- Loose abdominal skin
- A hanging lower abdomen
- Stretch marks on skin below the belly button
- A weakened or separated abdominal wall
- Changes after pregnancy or weight loss
Abdominoplasty is used for contouring, not for major weight loss. It is usually best for patients near a stable weight who want to improve abdominal shape.
Surgical Liposuction
Liposuction removes localized fat using a thin tube called a cannula. The goal is contouring, not general weight loss.
Liposuction may be used on areas such as:
- The abdomen
- Love handles or flanks
- Hip contours
- The thighs
- Upper arms
- Back rolls
- Submental area and neck
- Chest
- The knees
Firm, elastic skin is important. Liposuction alone may not be enough when the skin is loose. A skin-tightening or skin removal procedure may be needed in that situation.
Customized Mommy Makeover
Body changes after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight change may be treated with a custom mommy makeover plan. It often includes both breast and abdominal procedures.
Mommy makeover options may include:
- A tummy tuck procedure
- Breast lift surgery
- Breast augmentation
- Breast reduction
- Surgical fat removal
- Fat grafting
The name “mommy makeover” can be misleading because similar body changes can affect many patients. Anyone with similar changes may consider this type of plan. The best mommy makeover plan should consider health, goals, recovery time, and whether future pregnancy is expected.
Upper Arm Lift Procedure
An arm lift or brachioplasty improves upper arm shape by removing loose skin.
An arm lift may address:
- Hanging skin under the arms
- Extra skin after major weight loss
- Aging changes in the arms
- Avoiding sleeveless clothing
- Irritation from loose arm skin
The main 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. Major weight loss is a common reason for thigh lift surgery.
A thigh lift may address:
- Loose skin on the inner thighs
- Thigh skin rubbing
- Poor clothing fit around the thighs
- Heaviness from extra skin
- Changes after bariatric surgery or major weight loss
Thigh lift surgery can be done with different patterns. The right option depends on how much skin needs to be removed and where the looseness is located.
Body Lift After Weight Loss
A body lift removes loose skin around the lower body. The procedure may improve several areas, including the abdomen, hips, outer thighs, buttocks, and lower back.
A body lift may be chosen after:
- Substantial weight loss
- Bariatric weight-loss surgery
- Pregnancy-related body changes
- Major loose skin from aging
A body lift is a larger procedure and usually has a longer recovery. The best candidates are usually in good health and at a stable weight.
Body Fat Grafting
With fat grafting, fat is removed from one area and placed in another. Fat grafting can add natural volume or refine body contour.
Fat grafting may be used in areas such as:
- Breast shape
- Buttocks
- The hips
- Facial soft tissue
- Contour irregularities after injury or surgery
Fat grafting uses your own tissue, but not all transferred fat survives. Results may change over time, and more than one session may be needed.
Skin Lesion, Scar, and Surface Treatments
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 erase the scar, but it can make it less raised, tight, wide, or noticeable.
Scar revision may address:
- Surgery-related scars
- Trauma scars
- Scars from burns
- Scars that feel thick
- Scars that limit comfort
- Scars that pull during movement
Treatment may include surgery, copyright injections, laser treatment, silicone therapy, or a combination.
Removal of 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.
Patients may seek removal for:
- Skin irritation
- Noticeable growth
- Recurrent bleeding
- Appearance concerns
- Diagnosis
- Improved comfort
Changing moles or suspicious skin lesions should be reviewed by a qualified medical professional.
Skin Cancer Reconstruction
When skin cancer is removed, plastic surgery reconstruction may help close the area and restore appearance. This is common in areas such as the face, nose, eyelids, ears, lips, scalp, and hands.
Common skin cancer reconstruction methods include:
- Closing the area directly
- Reconstruction with a skin graft
- A local flap
- More advanced reconstruction
The goal is safe cancer removal while preserving function and appearance as much as possible.
Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures
Not every patient needs surgery. Non-surgical cosmetic treatments may help with early signs of aging, facial lines, volume loss, and skin quality. Compared with surgery, non-surgical treatments often have less downtime but need maintenance.
BOTOX Cosmetic Treatments
Selected facial muscles can be relaxed with BOTOX and other neuromodulators. They are often used for expression lines.
BOTOX and neuromodulators may treat:
- Lines between the eyebrows
- Lines across the forehead
- Crow’s feet
- Expression lines on the nose
- Peau d’orange chin texture
- Neck bands in some cases
The results do not last forever and usually need maintenance treatments. A natural neuromodulator result should look softer and rested, not stiff or frozen.
Dermal Fillers
Volume can be restored or added with dermal fillers. Many dermal fillers are made with hyaluronic acid, a gel-like substance used to shape and support soft tissue.
Patients may consider fillers for:
- The lips
- Midface fullness
- Chin projection
- Lower-face contour
- Under-eye volume loss
- Deeper smile lines
- Marionette folds
Filler results depend on product choice, injection technique, facial anatomy, and treatment goals. Overfilling can look unnatural, so conservative planning is important.
Chemical Peels for Skin Texture and Tone
A chemical peel uses a controlled chemical solution to improve the outer layers of skin.
Chemical peels may help with:
- Patchy skin tone
- Skin dullness
- Mild lines
- Photoaging
- Mild marks from acne
- Skin texture concerns
The strength of a peel may be light, medium, or deeper depending on the goal. Recovery depends on the type of peel.
Energy-Based Aesthetic Skin Treatments
Laser and energy-based procedures can address skin tone, redness, texture, unwanted hair growth, scars, and signs of aging.
Common treatment options may include:
- Resurfacing laser treatment
- Photofacial treatment with IPL
- Radiofrequency-based treatments
- Treatments for mild skin laxity
- Laser-based hair reduction
- Vascular laser treatment for redness or broken vessels
Skin type, skin tone, and the concern being treated should guide the choice of treatment. For patients with darker skin tones, this is especially important because pigment changes can occur.
Skin Resurfacing With Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion
A deeper resurfacing option called dermabrasion removes outer layers of skin. Compared with dermabrasion, microdermabrasion is lighter and more superficial.
These treatments may help with:
- Uneven texture
- Surface-level scars
- Dullness
- An uneven skin surface
- Mild lines
The right option depends on skin quality, goals, downtime, and risk tolerance.
Finding the Right Plastic Surgery Option
A good plastic surgery plan starts by identifying the concern instead of choosing a procedure name first. A patient may request one procedure, then find out that a different option fits their anatomy better.
For instance:
- Upper lid heaviness may be related to eyelid skin, brow position, or both.
- A soft jawline may be caused by loose skin, neck bands, fat, or chin position.
- Fat, loose skin, muscle separation, or internal weight may cause abdominal fullness.
- Flat-looking breasts may be improved with a lift, implants, fat grafting, or a combination.
- Fat pads, hollowing, skin laxity, or pigmentation may contribute to under-eye bags.
A helpful treatment plan should answer these three questions:
- What is behind the concern?
- Which procedure best treats that cause?
- What must be accepted with that option?
These trade-offs may include scars, downtime, swelling, cost, maintenance, and possible complications.
What Patients Often Worry About Before Surgery
It is common to have mixed feelings before plastic surgery. Feeling excited and anxious at the same time is common. Many patients worry about safety, pain, scars, recovery, cost, and whether the outcome will look natural.
“Will I Look Natural After Surgery?”
Many patients ask this question. Many people want to look refreshed, not changed. Good plastic surgery should respect the patient’s natural features, body frame, age, and style.
The goal is usually to improve balance, not chase perfection.
“When Can I Return to Normal Activities?”
Healing time is different for every procedure. Non-surgical treatments may require little or no downtime. A tummy tuck, body lift, or mommy makeover is more involved and needs more planning.
In general, recovery planning may include:
- Temporary swelling and bruising
- Restrictions on exercise or lifting
- Recovery time before returning to work
- Follow-up appointments
- Post-surgery scar care
- A staged return to physical activity
- Final results that develop over time
Recovery does not happen instantly. For many procedures, results continue to refine over weeks and months.
“Can Plastic Surgery Scars Be Hidden?”
A scar forms whenever an incision is made. The goal is to place scars as carefully as possible and help them heal well.
Many factors affect scar quality, including:
- Genetic healing patterns
- Natural skin tone
- The kind of surgery performed
- Scar location
- Tension along the incision
- Smoking and vaping status
- Sun protection during healing
- How the scar is cared for
Most scars fade with time, but they do not fully disappear.
“How Safe Is Plastic Surgery?”
Every operation has possible risks. Plastic surgery risks may include bleeding, infection, poor scarring, anesthesia concerns, asymmetry, delayed healing, numbness, fluid buildup, and dissatisfaction.
Safety depends on many factors, including:
- Your overall health
- Your medications
- Smoking or nicotine use
- Which surgery is performed
- Where the procedure takes place
- The anesthesia plan
- The training and experience of the surgeon
- Care after the procedure
A careful consultation should include benefits, risks, alternatives, and realistic expectations.
Plastic Surgery in Canada, What Patients Should Know
In Canada, plastic surgery is regulated through medical licensing, provincial colleges, hospitals, surgical facilities, and professional standards. Patients should know the difference between marketing terms and recognized medical training.
Choosing a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
When researching plastic surgery in Canada, patients should look for proper training and credentials. The surgeon should have medical training, surgical training, and certification in the specialty of plastic surgery.
Important consultation questions include:
- What plastic surgery certification do you hold?
- Are you licensed to perform surgery in this province?
- How much experience do you have with this procedure?
- Which surgical facility will be used?
- Who is responsible for anesthesia care?
- What complications should I understand for my situation?
- What is the plan if there is a complication?
- How many follow-up visits are included?
- Can I review examples of similar cases?
This is not about challenging the surgeon. It is about making an informed choice.
Plastic Surgery Costs in Canada
Cosmetic surgery costs in Canada can vary widely. Pricing depends on 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. Costs may vary in smaller Canadian cities, but price should not outweigh safety, training, and follow-up care.
A bargain price is not always a good deal if it comes with weaker safety, training, facility standards, or aftercare.
Medical Tourism Compared With Plastic Surgery in Canada
Lower-cost surgery outside Canada may appeal to some Canadians. Although this may sound appealing, extra risks should be considered.
Patients should think about medical tourism concerns such as:
- Limited post-surgery follow-up
- Travelling before healing is complete
- Higher concern about infection
- Different surgical standards
- Less access to surgical records
- Challenges managing post-surgery problems in Canada
- Language barriers
- Unexpected revision costs
Staying closer to home for surgery can help with follow-up, especially if swelling, healing problems, or complications need attention.
Preparing for a Plastic Surgery Consultation
A consultation is your chance to learn what is possible, what is safe, and what is realistic. It should not feel rushed or pressured.
Before your visit, it helps to prepare:
- Write down your main concerns.
- Bring a list of your medications and supplements.
- Prepare to discuss your medical history.
- Tell the truth about smoking, vaping, cannabis, and nicotine use.
- Reference photos can be helpful if they explain your goals.
- Ask about recovery, scars, risks, and alternatives.
- Ask what can realistically be achieved for your face or body.
A helpful consultation should explain your options clearly. The right advice may be to delay surgery, choose a smaller treatment, improve health first, or avoid surgery.
Who May Be a Good Candidate?
The best candidates for plastic surgery are often 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 suitable candidate if:
- You are medically well enough for surgery
- You have a specific concern
- You are at a stable weight for body contouring
- You do not smoke or can stop before and after surgery
- You understand the recovery process
- You accept the risks, scars, and trade-offs
- You are choosing the procedure for yourself
- Your expectations are realistic
It may be better to delay surgery if pregnancy, major weight loss plans, nicotine use, unstable health, or outside pressure are present.
Can Plastic Surgery Procedures Be Combined?
It may be safe to combine some procedures. In some cases, procedures should be 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.
Common procedure combinations include:
- Facelift and neck lift surgery
- Eyelid surgery with a brow lift
- Nose surgery with chin surgery
- Breast lift plus volume enhancement
- Tummy tuck with liposuction
- Combined mommy makeover procedures
- Post-weight-loss contouring with body lift and limb contouring
- Facial surgery with fat grafting
A safe combined plan should consider health, surgery length, anesthesia, recovery support, and risk.
Understanding Your Plastic Surgery Options in Canada
In Canada, plastic surgery covers a wide range of cosmetic and reconstructive options. Some improve the face, breasts, or body. Some procedures restore tissue after cancer, injury, burns, or medical conditions. Wrinkles, volume loss, skin texture, and early aging changes may also be improved with non-surgical treatments.
A trending procedure is not always the right procedure. The best choice is the one that fits your anatomy, goals, health, and comfort level.
A responsible approach should be built around safety, natural-looking results, clear expectations, and proper follow-up care. If you are considering eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, liposuction, facelift surgery, or reconstructive plastic surgery, start by learning what each option can and cannot do.