Board Certified Plastic Surgeons

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Persons considering cosmetic surgery are advised to search for board certified plastic surgeons to ensure they are dealing with someone qualified to perform the procedure.

Several boards exist that certify plastic and cosmetic surgeons. They include the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery.

Several areas of medicine overlap when it comes to plastic and cosmetic surgery. Plastic surgery, for example, is both a specialty on its own and a subspecialty within otolaryngology. A board-certified otolaryngologist β€”an ear, nose and throat specialist β€” can have a certification in plastic surgery within the head and neck, which also is a subspecialty of general plastic surgery. A person who wants cosmetic surgery on his or her eyelids, as another example, would go to a board-certified surgeon or a board-certified ophthalmologist β€” a medical eye doctor.
And board-certified plastic surgeons or dermatologists are good choices for cosmetic procedures to the skin. Facial plastic surgery also can be performed by a board-certified maxillofacial surgeon, which is a subspecialty of dentistry.

By choosing a board certified plastic surgeon, consumers can be sure that their doctor has extensive experience in any procedure they are considering. A board certified plastic surgeon can also provide guidance needed to make an informed decision.

To earn board certification, a physician or surgeon must go through years of residency and practice in their specialty. A surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, for example, has to meet several requirements: a degree from an accredited medical school; completion of three years of general surgery; completion of two to three years of supervised residency in plastic surgery; at least two years of professional practice; and must pass rigorous written and oral examinations.

Physicians and surgeons may be certified by more than one medical board. A cosmetic surgeon, for example, may be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery as well as by the American Board of Otolaryngology.

Once certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, plastic surgeons can apply for membership in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. To qualify for membership in the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, a surgeon must meet certain requirements for continuing education as well as possess a specific level of cosmetic surgery experience.

After a consumer confirms that the physician he or she consults about cosmetic or plastic surgery is board-certified, they should inquire whether the physician has experience performing the procedure. They should ask how often the physician has performed the procedure and at what hospitals or clinics they have admitting privileges.




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