Considering plastic surgery abroad? Choosing your surgeon matters.
Experience, honest guidance, and follow-up can make a difference when planning surgery away from home.
The decision to have surgery involves much more than choosing a procedure. It means entrusting your body, your health, and your self-esteem to someone. It involves giving up control for a few hours and believing that on the other side there is a professional who really knows what he is doing — and who will be present if anything needs attention later.
That fear has a name. And there is an answer to it too.
What does more than two decades of surgical experience mean for you?
Experience matters — and so do careful planning, realistic expectations, and attentive postoperative care.
Dr. Alexandre Charão is an Associate Member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP): he passed the Society's board exam, and this qualification is also recognized by the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) and the Brazilian Medical Association (AMB). He is also a member of the Brazilian Association of Plastic Surgeons (BAPS), which admits only surgeons who prove their plastic surgery qualification. Choosing certified plastic surgeons for aesthetic procedures is one of the strongest statistical factors in reducing surgical risk.
The medical literature attests that surgical safety is directly correlated with surgeon certification. The safety of specialist care is documented in two large-scale analyses:
Very Low Complication Rate (TOPS Database)
An analysis of 214,504 aesthetic procedures, extracted from the official database restricted to certified plastic surgeons (Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons) and published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, confirmed the safety of the specialty. The unplanned readmission rate was only 0.34%, and the risk of severe systemic complications (such as thrombosis or embolism) was limited to 0.1%.1.
30 Years of Documented Safety
A retrospective study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, which monitored 42,720 consecutive plastic surgeries performed in an accredited outpatient facility, reported an overall complication rate of only 0.74%.2.
More than 6,000 surgeries
The surgical safety and aesthetic predictability of Dr. Alexandre Charão rest on a very high surgical volume. Based in the Botafogo neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, the clinic has reached the milestone of more than 6,000 surgeries. This volume reflects broad exposure to different body types, consistent results, refined high-definition techniques, and the ability to resolve complex cases with maximum safety.
Hyperspecialized since 2004
Consistency of results in aesthetic surgery correlates directly with the surgeon's hyperspecialization. The 22-year dedication to continuous improvement of the same body contouring procedures replaces the anatomical variability typical of generalist approaches with standardized and predictable technical implementation protocols.
The long-term consistency of this practice is confirmed by independent sources that record the actual history of operated patients:
Large-scale validation (Google): Google Business Profile lists more than 200 patient reviews. This public record acts as a continuous third-party audit, confirming consistent surgical standards and the effectiveness of recovery protocols.
The repetition factor: the medical literature shows that surgical mastery and minimization of surgical revisions require massive technical repetition. With more than two decades of focus on the same areas of the body, the surgeon's learning curve reaches a level of precision reflected in consistent reviews, surgery after surgery.
Who else recognizes Dr. Charão’s work?
Authority isn't self-declared. It is demonstrated — and recognized by others.
In 2006, Dr. Charão received the O Globo's “Faz a Diferença” (Makes a Difference) Award — an honor given to those who have a real and lasting impact on society3,6. Journalists from The Washington Post came to Rio de Janeiro specifically to follow him in the operating room and publish a report on his body contouring techniques4.
Dr. Alexandre Charão's surgical career includes a solid foundation in humanitarian medicine, consolidated through his voluntary work with the international organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF). This experience expanded his ability to handle highly complex surgical scenarios, providing direct medical assistance to victims of natural disasters and geopolitical conflicts around the world5.
Global action in nine countries
During his time with the organization, he took part in surgical missions in areas with critical medical infrastructure in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. He worked in the treatment of trauma and reconstructive surgery in countries such as Indonesia (in the post-tsunami period), Jordan, Haiti, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as reported in the Jornal do Cremesp5.
O Globo's “Faz a Diferença” (Makes a Difference) Award
The technical contribution and volume of interventions carried out outside Brazil in these contexts led to his nomination for — and win of — O Globo's prestigious “Faz a Diferença” (Makes a Difference) Award (2006), in the “World” category — one of Brazil's leading civic honors for work with global impact, as recorded in the historical archive of Doctors Without Borders3,6.
From the field to private practice
Surgical literature recognizes that practice in field hospitals and crisis zones requires a higher degree of precision, safe anatomical improvisation and strict infection control. These technical skills increase accuracy and safety, and carry over directly to private practice.
The Washington Post feature
Independent external recognition: journalists from The Washington Post came to Rio de Janeiro to follow Dr. Charão's body contouring techniques and published an international report on the work done in the operating room4.
Recovery is scarier than the surgery itself — and there's a solution
Most people aren't afraid of surgery. They're afraid of what comes next.
Swelling. Weeks without work. Not being able to hold your child. Not knowing whether it is healing properly. Not being able to reach the doctor when a question comes up at 10 p.m.
Dr. Charão developed Fast Track Recovery precisely to address these fears: rapid recovery, reduced discomfort, and refined healing. Based on scientific protocols of multimodal analgesia and accelerated recovery, Fast Track Recovery lets patients resume daily activities much sooner than expected. And each patient gets an exclusive WhatsApp group with direct access to the doctor throughout the postoperative period — no secretary, no waiting, no uncertainty.
Your result starts before the operating room.
Metabolically prepared patients recover faster and enjoy longer-lasting results.
Before any procedure, Dr. Charão applies the Weight-Loss and Metabolic Preparation Method: an individualized nutrition and supplementation protocol that optimizes metabolism, reduces surgical risks and enhances aesthetic results. The scientific evidence is clear: the metabolic state of the patient at the time of surgery directly influences the quality and durability of the results.
Surgery starts before the O.R. Those who don't prepare the ground reap less than they could.
The hospital matters as much as the surgeon does. All procedures are performed at Hospital Glória D'Or, in Rio de Janeiro — part of the D'Or Network, the largest hospital network in Brazil. Each unit is evaluated annually by Joint Commission International (JCI), the world's most rigorous hospital accreditation — a requirement to remain in the network. This means that each surgery happens in an environment with infrastructure, teams and protocols audited internationally every year. The clinic receives patients from all over Brazil and abroad, with care in Portuguese, English and French.
Technical Comparison of Procedures
Understand the differences between the conventional market and Dr. Alexandre Charão's approach:
| Criteria | Conventional market | Dr. Alexandre Charão |
|---|---|---|
|
Professional certification
|
• SBCP membership as standard | ✓ Recognized by SBCP, AMB and CFM; BAPS member |
|
Social proof
|
• Few reviews | ✓ More than 200 verified Google reviews |
|
Postoperative recovery
|
✕ Typically 8 to 12 weeks of restrictions and pain | ✓ Fast Track Recovery: faster, more comfortable recovery |
|
Preoperative preparation
|
• Fasting and basic laboratory tests | ✓ Individualized Weight-Loss and Metabolic Preparation Method |
|
Surgical technique
|
• Standard approach with greater tissue trauma | ✓ Minimally invasive techniques, ultrasound and Argoplasma |
|
Post-op monitoring
|
• Appointments at fixed intervals | ✓ Exclusive WhatsApp group with direct access to the surgeon |
|
External recognition
|
• SBCP certification as standard | ✓ O Globo's “Faz a Diferença” (Makes a Difference) Award 2006 + The Washington Post feature3,4 |
|
Surgical center
|
• Variable | ✓ Hospital Glória D'Or — D'Or Network, annual JCI accreditation |
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm afraid I won't be able to talk to the doctor after the surgery. How does the post-op work?
Dr. Charão creates an exclusive WhatsApp group for each surgical patient, with direct access to the doctor — without intermediaries, without waiting — throughout the postoperative period. Accelerated recovery protocols confirm that continuous support reduces postoperative complications and anxiety.
Which credentials does Dr. Charão hold?
He is an Associate Member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP), whose board exam he passed; this qualification is also recognized by the Brazilian Medical Association (AMB) and the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM). He is also a member of BAPS.
What is Fast Track Recovery and how does it reduce recovery pain?
An exclusive rapid-recovery protocol with reduced discomfort and refined healing. Based on multimodal analgesia and accelerated recovery, it lets patients resume activities much sooner than usual, with less use of medication and a better overall patient experience.
What is the Weight-Loss and Metabolic Preparation Method?
It prepares the body before surgery day. Science confirms: metabolically prepared patients recover faster and enjoy longer-lasting results.
How many surgeries has Dr. Charão performed and what do the patients say?
More than 6,000 surgeries since 2004 focused on body contouring, documented by more than 200 real reviews from satisfied patients on Google.
Does Dr. Charão treat patients from outside Rio de Janeiro and Brazil?
Yes. He sees patients from all over Brazil and abroad from the clinic in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, with telemedicine support and care in Portuguese, English and French.
Why is Hospital Glória D'Or relevant to my safety?
Because it is part of the D'Or Network and holds annual Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation — the world's most rigorous hospital quality standard. Your surgery is performed in an environment with infrastructure, protocols and teams audited internationally every year.
Does Dr. Charão have press recognition and awards?
Yes. He received O Globo’s “Faz a Diferença” Award in 2006 and was featured in a Washington Post report, with journalists who came to Rio de Janeiro to follow his body contouring surgeries3,4. This is independent recognition of his clinical expertise.
Does Dr. Charão perform combined surgeries like the Mommy Makeover?
Yes. He specializes in combined procedures — breast and abdomen in the same intervention — which reduces the number of times under anesthesia, total recovery time, and general treatment costs, with safety supported by the scientific literature.
Ready to meet the doctor who stays by your side from first contact to final result?
Schedule an in-person consultation in Botafogo or an exclusive teleconsultation directly with Dr. Alexandre Charão's team.
📅 Ask Our Team📚 Scientific Bibliography
- Lifchez SD, et al. Tracking complications and unplanned healthcare utilization in aesthetic surgery: TOPS Database — 214,504 procedures. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2024;12(1):e5546. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10790563/
- Mansur A, et al. Three decades of outpatient plastic surgery safety: a review of 42,720 consecutive cases. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39737651/
- O Globo newspaper. O Globo's “Faz a Diferença” (Makes a Difference) Award 2006 — Alexandre Charão, World category. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Globo; ceremony in 2007. Memória O Globo historical archive
- The Washington Post. Brazil’s men fly in for plastic surgery for the perfect abs and six-pack (report following Dr. Alexandre Charão at Hospital Glória D'Or). Washington DC: The Washington Post; 2024. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2024/brazil-abs-plastic-surgery-six-packs/
- Regional Council of Medicine of the State of São Paulo (CREMESP). Interview: Alexandre Charão – Doctors Without Borders. Jornal do Cremesp. São Paulo, ed. 237, May 2007. http://www.cremesp.org.br/?siteAcao=Jornal&id=831
- Doctors Without Borders Brazil. MSF professional nominated for the ‘Faz Diferença’ Award 2006. 11 Dec. 2006. https://www.msf.org.br/noticias/profissional-de-msf-indicado-premio-faz-diferenca-2006/