When it comes to having a medical procedure, everyone wants to have a surgeon who is qualified, safe and adequately trained. Searching for the right plastic surgeon is even more important as aesthetic surgeries are completely elective and with real risk and potential for deadly complications. Plastic surgery is such a lucrative field, many doctors want to perform similar surgeries, calling themselves, “cosmetic surgeons.” Yet, these doctors, lack the adequate resources to provide patients optimal anesthetic care and lack the surgical training to care for any potential complications. They may call their 6-week surgery rotation in medical school, “surgical training.” However, medical students merely observe and possibly hold a retractor at best in medical school. Medical students certainly are not part of the decision making processes and surgical planning of patients. Their place of training may be mentioned and their certification in “Cosmetic Surgery” is emphasized.

By definition, any random group of people can come together and form a “board.” The only real TRUE board for aesthetic surgery is the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ie. ABPS). There are 24 boards of medical specialties recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. To earn and maintain certification in one of these prestigious medical specialties requires the doctor to have completed an ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education)-accredited program, pass their board examinations and also maintain their certification by practicing their field of medicine without any concerning disciplinary actions.

Where Do I Look for My Surgeon’s Credentials?

The best place to look is not the surgeon’s website. These cosmetic surgeons have vague language on their websites, making them seem like more than what they are. Also, a true plastic surgeon would not call themselves a, “cosmetic surgeon.” Instead, the term, “Aesthetic Surgeon,” is a more accurate, refined and preferred term that they would use. One could ask the administration at the hospital where the surgeon has privileges at. However, unless you know exactly what to ask, you could mistake their hospital privileges for operating room privileges. Any doctor can have hospital privileges, which means they can work in the hospital. This could be a radiologist, emergency room doctor, or a primary care physician. Even if one has operating room privileges, they may not be allowed to perform plastic surgeries there, but can perform colonoscopies as a gastrointestinal doctor or dental extractions as a dentist.

The most reliable way to find your surgeon’s credentials is to go to www.abms.org. The American Board of Medical Specialties is a resource where you can type in your surgeon’s name and find out exactly what residency they completed. If there information is not on there, chances are that they did not even complete a residency or maintained their certification, both of which are unsavory possibilities. In the United States, board certified plastic surgeons can also be found on www.abplasticsurgery.org.

When you’re considering to have plastic surgery, pick someone who cared enough about their career to go through the necessary training, not someone who cut corners and pretends to be a plastic surgeon. You’re sacrificing a large amount of money, time off work, the energy of your loved ones, and your HEALTH. Do the appropriate research.

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