Finding A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Finding a good plastic surgeon that you have total confidence in can be tough. The most important question you will want to ask is whether he or she is a board certified plastic surgeon. Why does it matter? Plastic surgery is an elective surgical enhancement that is serious and irreversible so confidence in the abilities of your surgeon is paramount. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has a listing of all board certified surgeons in your area to help you get all the facts. It is your job to arm yourself with knowledge in order to receive the most satisfying outcome.

The ASPS has stringent requirements for a doctor to become a board certified plastic surgeon. The bare minimum education requirements include graduating from an accredited medical school and completing five or more years in a residency program. Those five years must include at least three years of general surgery experience at an accredited program and two years of plastic surgery experience in a residency program. In addition, he or she must successfully pass comprehensive oral and written exams and be actively practicing cosmetic plastic surgery.

The ASPS is the only board dedicated to overseeing regulations in the field and so doctors who hold this certification are the only ones allowed to perform any type of plastic surgery procedure or treatment. The ASPS is a helpful tool for those seeking cosmetic plastic surgery because they can rest assured that the doctor they have chosen underwent extensive residency, training and work experience. Make sure you choose a doctor that is board certified in the area that you want improved. For instance, you would want to get liposuction from a doctor who is board certified in plastic surgery instead of a facial plastic surgeon since that surgeon doesn’t specialize in the procedure you want.

To find out if your physician is board certified, a patient can visit the ASPS Web site at www.plasticsurgery.org to verify a specific medical specialty. This gives you the chance to learn if a certain doctor you are interested in has completed the required training and is working toward certification.

Choosing a board certified plastic surgeon may be the most important factor in your decision to have cosmetic surgery. Do take into consideration personal qualities like the surgeon’s sincerity, patience and communication skills since these should also have great influence on your decision. Remember that just because a doctor has acquired board certification does not automatically mean that he or she is compatible with your needs. At least by doing a background check, you can feel more secure in your decision.