After reading this section, you will be able to, once and for all, determine who is trained and qualified as a plastic surgeon.

JUMP TO:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
ABOUT THE AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY, INC. (ABPS)
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE CERTIFIED BY THE ABPS
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF - 3 EASY STEPS
4 QUESTIONS TO ASK DURING YOUR CONSULTATION



BACKGROUND INFORMATION
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Because any individual with a medical doctor degree can call himself/herself a plastic surgeon and perform plastic surgery procedures in the United States and because any individual(s) may form a ‘board’ that includes the words plastic surgery that is not recognized by The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), it is up to you to figure out who is a qualified plastic surgeon with the proper training and credentials and who is not so you can protect your face, your body, and your life.

Choosing to undergo aesthetic plastic surgery of your face and entire body can be a wonderful and safe experience if you choose a qualified plastic surgeon who is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc (ABPS). If you are considering plastic surgery of your face and the “board certified surgeon” before you is not certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc (ABPS) your health, safety, and appearance could be at risk.

If you think certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc is just a title, think again. Both The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and The American Society For Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) require that an individual must be certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc. (ABPS). You need to as well.



THE AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY, INC. (ABPS)
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The American Board of Plastic Surgery is the only one of the 24 boards approved by The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to certify physicians in plastic surgery of the face and entire body. The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc (ABPS) does not contain the words “facial” or “cosmetic” and any “boards” containing these words do not, in any way, have any relationship to The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc (ABPS). Individuals stating they are “board certified” by boards containing these added names probably are not certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc (ABPS).

The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc (ABPS) certifies only plastic surgeons- not otolaryngologists, dermatologists, dentists, etc. In 1941, The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc (ABPS) was designated by The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to represent the specialty field of plastic surgery. The mission of The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc (ABPS) is to promote safe, ethical, and efficacious plastic surgery to the public by maintaining high standards for education, certification, and recertification of plastic surgeons as specialists and subspecialists.

WHAT IT TAKES TO BE CERTIFIED BY THE ABPS
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Because of the highly competitive selection process and the rigorous training involved, there are only 6,672 plastic surgeons in America who are certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc (ABPS). This means that the majority of individuals representing themselves to the public as “plastic surgeons” and/or performing plastic surgery procedures are not certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc. (ABPS). Scary but true.

Specific training and qualifications must be completed before an individual is certified as a plastic surgeon by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc. (ABPS). A plastic surgeon MUST:
Complete a minimum of 3 years of general surgery training
Complete a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residency
Pass both a Written Board Examination and an Oral Board Examination given by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc. (ABPS)

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF: 3 EASY STEPS
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When it comes to aesthetic plastic surgery, there should be no doubt or confusion whatsoever about a physician’s true qualifications - or lack thereof.
Because any licensed physician may legally perform plastic surgery and because any individual(s) may form a “board” that may include the words plastic surgery, you need to protect yourself by finding out who is a qualified plastic surgeon.

Finding out who really is a qualified plastic surgeon from the source is simple:

1. Contact The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc (ABPS) at: www.abplsurg.org or call: (215) 587 – 9322. REMEMBER: Absolutely make sure your physician is on this list.

2. Contact The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) at: www.abms.org or call: (886) ASK –ABMS. REMEMBER: The American Board of Plastic Surgery, INC. (ABPS) is the only one of the 24 boards approved by The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to certify physicians in plastic surgery of the face and entire body.

3. Contact The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) at:
www.plasticsurgery.org or call: (888) 4 – PLASTIC. REMEMBER: only physicians who are certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc (ABPS) can be members of this elite organization.

4 QUESTIONS TO ASK DURING YOUR CONSULTATION
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On any and every consultation you have for plastic surgery, you must ask the surgeon the following questions:

1. Ask the physician what residency training he/she completed.
REMEMBER: The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc (ABPS) will certify only those individuals who successfully complete a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residency. No ifs, ands, or buts. Do not let anyone, especially a physician, suggest that any other residency or fellowship containing the words plastic surgery, such as the 6 – 12 month “facial plastic surgery” one that some otolaryngologists do (i.e. otolaryngologists teaching other otolaryngologists about plastic surgery) has any relation to the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residency required by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, INC. (ABPS). REMEMBER: A plastic surgeon must complete AT LEAST 3 years of a General Surgery Residency before they can begin a Plastic and Reconstructive Residency. Many individuals not certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc (ABPS) will put on their resume that they completed a General Surgery Residency when, in fact, they only completed 1 year (called an internship) which many anesthesiologists and even some radiologists are required to do as a part of their own training. Find this out. Many plastic surgeons have completed 5-10 years of a General Surgery Residency before completing their Plastic and Reconstructive Residency.

2. Ask to see a Certificate in Plastic Surgery issued and signed by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc. (ABPS) – REMEMBER: The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc. (ABPS) does not contain the words “facial” or “cosmetic.”

3. Ask the physician if he/she is on staff as a Plastic Surgeon at an accredited hospital – only Plastic Surgeons are on staff as Plastic Surgeons in the Department of Plastic Surgery at accredited hospitals.

4. Ask the physician if he/she has privileges to perform the same procedure(s) that he/she is proposing to perform on you in his/her office at an accredited hospital.
If the hospital won’t let the dermatologist perform liposuction in the hospital, should you really let him/her do that procedure on you?

Rod Rohrich, MD, current President of ASPS recently said on 20/20 “Most people spend more time finding the right pair of shoes than they do finding a cosmetic plastic surgeon. You can take your shoes back, but you can’t take your face or life back.”

You do not and should not have to put yourself, your face, or your body at risk. You now have the knowledge and power to make sure that the surgeon in front of you is really qualified and certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc.