A board certified plastic surgeon is the most desirable type of doctor to perform your aesthetic surgery procedure. Board certification from a legitimate organization ensures that your doctor is recognized as a talented and capable surgeon by their peers in a highly competitive industry. There are many governing medical boards, but not all are equally reputable. Patients are advised to ask a doctor which boards have certified them, during the consultation, to make sure their doctor is a good choice for their chosen operation.
This article will explain more about medical board certification and why it is so important.
Medical Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
The most reputable plastic surgery organizations are The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The American Board of Plastic Surgery. The ABPS is the only board directly governed by The American Board of Medical Specialties, which gives them tremendous credibility.
Other quality governing boards include The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.
Many smaller governing boards exist representing specific procedures, or anatomical areas, such as the hand or face.
Other medical boards might also be useful in determining a surgeons quality, but these are by far the best known and most respected in the industry.
Board Certified Aesthetic Surgeon Resources
Plastic surgeons who claim to be board certified must maintain good standing with their governing organization. All these medical boards maintain updated websites which can be used to check on any doctor’s credentials and board standing. This is an excellent way to make sure your doctor is as qualified as they claim to be.
In addition, there are Department of Health websites set up in most states which allow you to check licensing information for any medical professional. You can also see a list of any disciplinary actions, misconduct or patient complaints against these licensed doctors.
Simply doing an internet search using the doctor’s name will often bring up many results which might be useful for your background check. Doctor’s surgical results are often discussed on the various online forums and any criminal complaints or lawsuits will be plainly visible in the search results.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Requirements
To become board certified, a doctor must have graduated from a quality accredited educational institution and completed general surgical internships and advanced fellowships in plastic surgery from an accredited source.
A minimum total of 5 years of residency are required, with at least 2 years devoted exclusively to plastic surgery study.
Additionally, a qualified physician must pass a written and an oral exam to gain board certification.
Members are responsible to maintain their membership in good standing, which also necessitates ongoing education to stay current in their industry.
The Best Board Certified Aesthetic Surgeons
Hiring a board certified surgeon is always a wise choice. These medical professionals have demonstrated proven results, and a desire to be the very best, in front of a jury of their peers.
While board certification is not a guarantee that your surgical results will be perfect, it is a good starting point from which to research any doctor.
The names of many of the organizations and medical boards are often strikingly similar. Be very careful to get the correct name of the board and check for the doctor in their member listings. Other less reputable boards often employ names which are closely related to legitimate organizations.
It is especially important to check out doctors outside of your geographic area. The farther a doctor is from your home, the more difficult it might be to get a good idea of their skills and reputation. Use the internet as a tool when researching these professionals, since even international care providers will have many references online.
