• Breast Augmentation
• Breast Lift/Mastopexy
• Breast Reduction
• Breast Reconstruction
• Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck
• Liposuction
• Thigh Lift
• Rhinoplasty/Nose Reshaping
• Face Lift
• Brow Lift
• Eyelid Surgery
• Otoplasty/Ear Reshaping
• Chin Augmentation
• Scar Revision
• Botox®
• Botox® For Excessive Sweating
• Restylane®
• Juvederm™
• Skin Cancer Treatment
• Treatment of Facial Injuries
• Surgery of the Hand

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

There seems to be a fair amount of confusion as to the definition and the importance of the term:  Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.

First, let me define the term.  Board certification is a credentialing process where physicians voluntarily complete a list of requirements in order to be certified by a particular specialty board.  Specialty boards require training at an approved program and the completion of an examination process.  Each specialty does it a little differently.  Some boards administer their exams during the training process, others wait until after a doctor has been in practice.  Some specialties require an oral exam, some do not.

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) recognizes 24 specialty boards that meet certain rigorous standards.  For plastic surgery, the American Board of Plastic Surgery is the only recognized board.  Other boards exist, but are not recognized as meeting the appropriate standards as determined by the ABMS.  Currently there are more than 75 non-ABMS recognized boards.  Examples of these include the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 

In addition, some surgeons who perform cosmetic procedures are board certified in an unrelated field such as head and neck surgery, ophthalmology or obstetrics and gynecology.  Before a consultaion for any cosmetic procedure, patients should always inquire as to whether the surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) requires the following in order to become board certified.  First, a candidate must complete prerequisite training followed by requisite training at an approved plastic surgery training program.  Next, candidates must pass a comprehensive written exam which is usually taken within the first year after training.  Finally, candidates must pass an oral examination which strenuously evaluates a candidate's knowledge base, judgement and ethical standards.  Only after completing each of these steps are candidates considered board certified.  The official term is a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  The ABPS requires re-certification every ten years.

Now to the question of importance.  Are there knowledgeable surgeons who are not board certified?  Sure.  Are there any unethical surgeons who are board certified?  Yes.  Board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery does not guarantee a good cosmetic result.  It does not insure that your experience will be free of any complications.  However, it does prove that a plastic surgeon has completed the required training in plastic surgery, and has passed a set of rigorous exams.  When it comes to your health, what could be more important than finding a plastic surgeon who has been appropriately trained and who has proven their knowledge and ethics through a demanding examination process?