Every licensed Colombian doctor is registered in the ReTHUS (Registro Único Nacional del Talento Humano en Salud) database, which is publicly searchable. For plastic surgeons specifically, SCCP (Sociedad Colombiana de Cirugía Plástica) membership confirms board certification and ongoing peer review. Verifying credentials takes 15 minutes and is the highest-leverage safety action you can take.
Step 1: ReTHUS Registration
ReTHUS is Colombia's national healthcare professional registry — the equivalent of a state medical board license in the US. Every legitimate doctor in Colombia has a ReTHUS number. To verify, ask your surgeon for their full name and ReTHUS number, then search the Ministry of Health database. The record will confirm their medical degree, university, specialty training, and current registration status.
Step 2: Specialty Board Certification
A general medical license doesn't qualify someone to perform surgery. For cosmetic or plastic surgery, verify SCCP membership — this confirms the surgeon completed an accredited plastic surgery residency (typically 4+ years beyond medical school) and maintains active standing in the professional society. For other specialties, verify membership in the relevant Colombian specialty society.
Step 3: University and Training
Colombian medical education follows a rigorous model: 6–7 years of undergraduate medical training (medicina), followed by rural service (servicio social obligatorio), followed by 3–6 years of specialty residency. The top medical schools (Universidad de Antioquia, Universidad CES, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad Nacional) produce graduates who compete for the most coveted specialty positions.
Step 4: Hospital Privileges
A surgeon with privileges at a reputable hospital has been independently vetted by that institution. Hospitals with JCI accreditation apply the strictest credentialing standards. Ask which hospital your surgeon has privileges at, and verify the hospital's accreditation status independently.
Red Flags
- A surgeon who can't or won't provide their ReTHUS number
- No verifiable specialty training in the procedure you're seeking
- Operating out of a non-accredited facility (apartment, office suite, unlicensed clinic)
- "Aesthetic doctors" or "cosmetic surgeons" without SCCP certification performing invasive procedures
- Before/after photos that look too perfect, too uniform, or appear to be stock images
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