StayFifteen minutes. That’s all it takes to verify whether the surgeon you’re considering is actually qualified to perform your procedure. Fifteen minutes that could save your life.
In the Dominican Republic, as in many countries, the title ‘cosmetic surgeon’ isn’t legally protected. This means anyone with a medical degree can market themselves as a cosmetic surgeon and legally perform procedures — regardless of whether they’ve completed specialized plastic surgery training. A general surgeon, an OB-GYN, even a family medicine doctor could hang a sign advertising BBLs and tummy tucks.
The difference between a board-certified plastic surgeon and someone simply calling themselves a cosmetic surgeon isn’t marketing — it’s years of specialized training, rigorous examinations, and ongoing professional accountability. It’s the difference between someone who knows how to handle complications and someone who’s never been trained to recognize them.
This guide will show you exactly how to verify credentials, what questions to ask, and what red flags should make you walk away.
Understanding Dominican Medical Credentials
Experience personalized aesthetic solutions designed to enhance your natural beauty with precision and care. Our expert treatments focus on Before you can verify credentials, you need to understand what credentials actually matter. In the Dominican Republic, there are several layers of medical licensing and certification.
CMD: The Basic Medical License
The Colegio Médico Dominicano (CMD) is the Dominican Medical College. All physicians practicing in the Dominican Republic must be registered with CMD. This confirms that someone graduated from medical school and is licensed to practice medicine — but it says nothing about surgical specialization. A CMD registration alone does not qualify someone to perform plastic surgery.
SODOCIPRE: The Plastic Surgery Board
SODOCIPRE — the Sociedad Dominicana de Cirugía Plástica, Reconstructiva y Estética — is the Dominican Society of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery. This is the only legitimate plastic surgery board in the Dominican Republic.
To become a SODOCIPRE member, a surgeon must complete an accredited plastic surgery residency program, typically lasting 3-4 years after general surgery training. They must pass comprehensive examinations demonstrating competency in plastic surgery. They must maintain ongoing education requirements and adhere to the society’s ethical standards.
SODOCIPRE certification is the Dominican equivalent of being board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in the United States. It’s the credential that matters.
The ‘Cosmetic Surgeon’ Problem
Here’s where it gets dangerous. The term ‘cosmetic surgeon’ or ‘aesthetic surgeon’ is not a protected title. Anyone can use it. A general surgeon who took a weekend course in liposuction can legally call themselves a cosmetic surgeon. A dermatologist who decided to start performing facelifts can market their practice as aesthetic surgery.
These practitioners may be perfectly competent physicians in their actual specialty. But performing complex body contouring procedures requires specific training they don’t have. When complications arise — and they can arise even with the best surgeons — someone without plastic surgery training may not recognize the warning signs or know how to respond.
This is why verification matters so much. You can’t assume that someone advertising plastic surgery services is actually a plastic surgeon.
Step-by-Step: Verifying SODOCIPRE Membership
The good news is that verifying a surgeon’s credentials takes only a few minutes. Here’s exactly how to do it.
Step 1: Go to the SODOCIPRE Website
Open your browser and navigate to sodocipre.net. This is the official website of the Dominican plastic surgery society. The site is available in both Spanish and English.
Step 2: Find the Member Directory
Look for a section called ‘Cirujanos Plásticos’ or ‘Plastic Surgeons’ or ‘Member Directory.’ This contains the official list of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the Dominican Republic.
Step 3: Search for Your Surgeon
Search for the surgeon’s name. In the Dominican Republic, people typically have two last names — their father’s surname followed by their mother’s surname. Make sure you’re searching with the correct full name.
Step 4: Verify the Match
If you find the surgeon listed, verify that the photo and information match the person you’ve been communicating with. Confirm the location matches where they claim to practice. Some fraudulent practitioners have been known to use the names of legitimate surgeons.
Step 5: Document What You Find
Take a screenshot of the listing for your records. If you cannot find the surgeon listed, that’s a serious red flag that requires explanation.
If They’re Not Listed
If you cannot find a surgeon in the SODOCIPRE directory, they are not board-certified in plastic surgery in the Dominican Republic. Full stop. This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re unqualified in their actual specialty — but it means they are not a plastic surgeon, regardless of how they market themselves.
Some surgeons may claim they’re ‘internationally board-certified’ or certified by other organizations. Be very skeptical of these claims. Ask for specifics and verify independently. SODOCIPRE is the legitimate plastic surgery board in the DR.
Questions to Ask During Your Consultation
Beyond online verification, your consultation is an opportunity to assess a surgeon’s qualifications directly. Here are questions that reveal important information.
About Training and Credentials
Ask where they completed their plastic surgery residency. A qualified surgeon will name a specific hospital and program. If they’re vague or defensive about this question, that’s concerning.
Ask if they’re a member of SODOCIPRE and request their membership number. A legitimate surgeon will provide this without hesitation.
Ask about their specific experience with your procedure. How many have they performed? What outcomes do they typically see? What complications have they encountered and how did they handle them?
About the Facility
Ask where surgeries are performed. Is it an accredited surgical center? What emergency equipment and protocols are in place? Can you visit the facility before committing?
A surgeon operating out of a proper surgical center like CIPLA will be happy to tell you about their facility. Someone operating in a converted apartment will be evasive.
About Safety Protocols
Ask what pre-operative evaluations are required. A safe surgeon will require cardiac and pulmonary clearance for body contouring procedures. If they’ll operate without these clearances, that’s a red flag.
Ask about their limits on combined procedures. How many hours maximum will they operate? What BMI limits do they maintain? A surgeon with clear, conservative limits is prioritizing safety.
Ask under what circumstances they would decline to operate. A surgeon who can clearly articulate patient selection criteria — who they turn away and why — is demonstrating that they prioritize safety over profit.
Red Flags in Credentials and Consultation
Certain warning signs should make you seriously reconsider a surgeon. Any of these should prompt you to seek a second opinion or walk away entirely.
Credential Red Flags
Not listed in SODOCIPRE directory is the biggest red flag. No legitimate explanation exists for a plastic surgeon not being registered with their professional board.
Vague or defensive answers about training history suggest something to hide. A qualified surgeon is proud of their credentials.
Claims of ‘international certification’ without specifics are often meaningless. Ask which organization and verify independently.
Credentials in unrelated specialties should raise questions. Why is an OB-GYN or general surgeon performing BBLs?
Consultation Red Flags
Unwillingness to answer safety questions directly is concerning. If a surgeon gets irritated when you ask about protocols, that tells you about their priorities.
No pre-operative evaluation requirements means they’re not serious about patient safety.
Willingness to perform unlimited procedures in one session prioritizes revenue over your wellbeing.
Pressure to book quickly without time to consider is a sales tactic, not a medical recommendation.
Prices dramatically below market rate often indicate corners being cut somewhere — usually on safety.
Why This Verification Matters
You might be thinking this seems like a lot of effort. You found a surgeon with great before-and-after photos and lots of positive reviews. Why go through all this verification?
Because photos can be stolen or edited. Reviews can be fabricated. Marketing can be misleading. The only thing that can’t be faked is official board certification that you verify yourself.
The patients who end up in headlines — the ones who suffer serious complications or worse — often chose their surgeon based on price, photos, or recommendations from friends. They didn’t verify credentials. They didn’t ask hard questions. They assumed that someone marketing plastic surgery services was actually qualified.
Fifteen minutes of verification is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself. It’s not paranoid — it’s prudent.
Conclusion
Verifying your surgeon’s credentials isn’t optional — it’s essential. In a market where anyone can call themselves a cosmetic surgeon, the only protection you have is doing your own due diligence.
Visit sodocipre.net and search for your surgeon. Ask direct questions about training, facility, and safety protocols. Trust your instincts if something feels off.
A qualified, ethical surgeon will welcome your questions. They’ll provide verification without defensiveness. They’ll be transparent about their credentials, their facility, and their approach to patient safety.
If a surgeon can’t or won’t verify their qualifications, they don’t deserve your trust — or your business.