Plastic Surgery Articles

The decision to have a plastic surgery procedure performed should be made after careful consideration of one’s options. It is especially important for prospective patients to be educated about the credentials of the surgeon with whom they are consulting.

Board certification is an important concept to understand. The American Board of Plastic Surgeons, whose Website can be found at www.abplsurg.org, certifies plastic and reconstructive surgeons who have completed a recognized residency training program in that specialty. The surgeon achieves this certification after passing comprehensive written and oral examinations. Patients can visit this Website to see if their surgeon is board certified.

Another important credential patients should look for is licensure or accreditation of the surgery facility where the procedure is to be performed. A licensed or accredited facility adheres to rigorous safety standards for the delivery of surgical care. California requires accreditation or licensure by law, but thirty-five states have no requirements.

Patients should ask the surgeon during the consultation what specific specialty training the surgeon has acquired. During the consultation it is important to obtain an in depth understanding of the procedure in which they have interest. Additional questions to pose to the surgeon should include his experience with the procedure. View photographs of patients who the surgeon has operated upon. Also, an awareness of potential complications related to the specific surgical procedure is important.

Most board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeons are members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and/or the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). Membership in one or both of these societies is a further indication of the surgeon’s background and training.

Two medical specialty boards certify Dr. Geoffrey R. Keyes: The American Board of Plastic Surgery and The American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. Both these surgical specialties substantiate training for cosmetic surgical procedures. He is President of the California Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Los Angeles Society of Plastic Surgeons, as well as the newly appointed President of the Aesthetic Surgery and Research Foundation (ASERF), affiliated with the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). Active in patient safety organizations, Dr. Keyes is Vice President elect of The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). He belongs to a list of other plastic surgery associations such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Rhinoplasty Society.

Contact Beverly Hill Plastic Surgeon Dr. Geoffrey R. Keyes Today to setup a consultation

Written by: Geoffrey Keyes M.D.