Plastic Surgery Articles

With the recent popularization of plastic surgery, more patients are considering having a cosmetic procedure performed. After this somewhat emotional process, you are then left with another, perhaps even more important decision: what doctor do I see? Fortunately, the “buzz words” have been “board certification” and most people know to look for this credential in a plastic surgeon. But the truth is: all “boards” are not created equal. “Bogus boards” have been created that deceive patients into thinking they are being seen by a plastic surgeon. Cosmetic surgeon and plastic surgeon are not interchangeable terms and this can be very confusing to prospective patients. Not only are these terms deceptive but even more important, it may actually be dangerous as some of these physicians have no formal surgical training.

The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is the only board that certifies plastic surgeons for treatment in all areas of the body. It is the only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to certify plastic surgeons. This certification guarantees a required level of training that includes at least 6 years of training in surgery including at least 2-3 years in plastic surgery. Many plastic surgeons do additional fellowship training in specific areas of interest. Surgeons must then practice for at least 2 years and complete a rigorous examination process before becoming board certified.

Why all the fuss? It is about our commitment to patient safety. Many physicians will take a weekend course to “learn” how to do liposuction or breast augmentation and this is clearly unsafe. When buying a car, you should kick the tires and look under the hood so that you know what you are getting. You need to make sure that when you are going to a plastic surgeon that you are actually seeing one.

So what should you do? Here are my recommendations:

• Ask the surgeon if they are board-certified. If they say yes, ask them if they are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. They may be certified in another specialty (OB-GYN, dermatology, etc.) but this does not qualify them to practice plastic surgery. Other boards may be “bogus boards” that were created to deceive you and are not recognized to certify plastic surgeons regardless of what the physician may call him/herself.
• If you are considering a cosmetic procedure, then you should seek a plastic surgeon who is also a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). This is a group of board-certified plastic surgeons who have demonstrated additional interest and expertise in cosmetic surgery in their practices.
• Ask the surgeon if they operate in an accredited facility. This is another commitment to patient safety. All board-certified plastic surgeons are required to do so. Accreditation requires the surgeon to have privileges to do in a hospital what they are offering to do for you in their facility. If not, the physician may be operating in this facility because they cannot get hospital privileges which should throw up a red flag.

Surgery is serious business and should not be taken lightly. While there are things that you may want to bargain for, your health, safety and your life should not be one of them. Make sure your surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Contact Orlando plastic surgeon Scott Greenberg today.

Written by: Scott Greenberg M.D., FACS