Procedures Performed by Board Certified Plastic Surgeons:
In the United States, there are approximately 80,000 doctors who are performing cosmetic surgery, only 6,000 of those are Board Certified in Plastic Surgery.
The fact that a doctor is Board Certified does not mean that he is a Plastic Surgeon. He could be Board Certified in 20 other fields. In the United States, any doctor who holds a medical license can advertise as a cosmetic or plastic surgeon. There are no laws preventing this. Your goal and responsibility is to make sure your doctor is Board Certified in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. In doing so you will then achieve the best possible results for your desired procedure.
Find the Plastic Surgeon who is right for you.
Choosing the right surgeon is all about trust. You want a surgeon who is skilled and experienced. Choose someone who you feel comfortable with, someone friendly, professional, and understanding, someone who listens closely to what your needs are, and cares about what you want. Cosmetic Surgery Referral Service will help you with these choices.
Find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area using our free nationwide service, with one of the following methods:
The following information that you are about to read will help you to understand the difference in certifications and why you should only use a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Your guarantee is that you have a fully trained specialist performing your desired procedure.
About Plastic Surgery and Board CertificationPlastic surgery became a recognized specialty in the United States in 1937, when the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery were founded. It established exams and qualifications for surgeons doing plastic surgery, which included cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. The item "plastic surgery" became synonymous with "cosmetic surgery" at that time.
Almost everyone has heard that they should look for a "Board Certification" when seeking a qualified surgeon, but most people don’t really understand exactly what this means and what is involved in becoming "Board Certified" by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Other boards have less strict criteria for certification and some only require a fee.
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is the agency which oversees and approves medical specialty boards since 1934. The only ABMS recognized board for Plastic Surgery is the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
The American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons require that the members must be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and reviewed by their peers. They must also participate in continuing medical education requirements, including innovations in patient safety, and adhere to a strict code of ethics.