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Aesthetic for FRCS (Plast)

Aesthetic covers cosmetic surgery of the face and body and the non-surgical treatments that now make up much of aesthetic practice. Facial surgery includes facelift, blepharoplasty and brow lift, and aesthetic rhinoplasty, built on the anatomy of the SMAS, the facial nerve branches and the eyelid support structures. Body surgery includes abdominoplasty, liposuction and fat grafting, and body contouring after massive weight loss. Non-surgical treatments cover botulinum toxin, dermal fillers and chemical peels, including the management of their complications. Gender-affirming surgery is also part of this category. Questions usually test patient selection, safe technique and the recognition of complications rather than aesthetic taste: the best answer is generally the one that keeps the patient safe.

65 questions in the bank · 8 topics Updated 3 October 2026

Practise aesthetic questions Try a free question

Topics in this domain

Facelift (rhytidectomy)10
Blepharoplasty & brow lift10
Rhinoplasty (aesthetic)10
Abdominoplasty8
Body contouring & post-bariatric7
Liposuction & fat grafting8
Non-surgical (toxin, fillers, peels)7
Gender-affirming surgery5

What the paper tends to test

Expect complication questions: haematoma after facelift, retrobulbar haemorrhage after blepharoplasty, vascular occlusion after filler.
The paper tends to test facial nerve danger zones and the anatomy of the SMAS and retaining ligaments.
Expect patient-selection questions for body contouring after massive weight loss: weight stability, nutrition and venous thromboembolism risk.
Lower eyelid questions usually turn on preoperative assessment of lid laxity and the need for canthal support.
Expect questions on safe practice and consent in non-surgical treatments, including the legal position for under-18s.

Classic traps and discriminators

Haematoma is the commonest early complication of facelift and is more likely in men and in patients with raised blood pressure; the great auricular nerve is the nerve most often injured.
Suspected vascular occlusion after hyaluronic acid filler — blanching, livedo, pain — needs immediate high-dose hyaluronidase, and any visual change is an ophthalmic emergency.
Lower lid laxity must be assessed (snap-back and distraction tests) before lower blepharoplasty; missing it risks ectropion or scleral show, and lax lids need canthal support.
Peak plasma lidocaine after tumescent infiltration occurs many hours after the procedure, so toxicity can present after the patient has left theatre.
In England, botulinum toxin and dermal fillers cannot be given to under-18s for cosmetic purposes under the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act 2021.

Free aesthetic practice question

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19Aesthetic·Abdominoplasty

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During a full abdominoplasty with vertical rectus plication, the umbilical stalk is brought through its new aperture in the flap. The stalk is long and skeletonised, and is now pale with sluggish capillary refill and minimal bleeding from its edge.

What is the most appropriate intraoperative step?

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Aesthetic questions, answered

What is the commonest complication of facelift?

Haematoma. It is more likely in men and in patients with poorly controlled blood pressure, and an expanding haematoma needs prompt return to theatre.

How is filler-related vascular occlusion treated?

For hyaluronic acid fillers, with immediate high-dose hyaluronidase into the affected territory, repeated as needed. Visual disturbance after filler is an emergency that needs urgent ophthalmology input.

Are non-surgical treatments part of the FRCS (Plast) syllabus?

Yes. The JCIE syllabus blueprint includes non-surgical rejuvenation, and questions tend to focus on safe practice, consent and complications rather than injection technique.

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