Plastic Surgeons

Choosing to have plastic surgery is an important decision, and so is selecting a plastic surgeon. Whether you're considering cosmetic surgery to improve your appearance or reconstructive surgery to correct defects or improve function, you want a surgeon with the skill and training to help achieve your goals.

This site recommends Board Certified Plastic Surgeons only. By dealing with Board Certified Plastic Surgeons you can be assured that you have the most qualified surgeons performing the procedures. To be board-certified, a surgeon must be certified by boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. To be board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a doctor must graduate from an accredited medical school, do internship and residency training in either general surgery or otolaryngology, complete an approved residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery, practice a minimum of two years after graduation, and pass extensive written and oral exams. These include a review of all cases done by the surgeon in the preceding year. The entire process takes approximately seven and a half years after graduation from medical school.

In most states, a licensed physician may perform cosmetic procedures without being board-certified in plastic surgery. Just because a doctor is board-certified does not mean he or she is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Many "cosmetic surgeons" list board certification but only the American Board of Plastic Surgery has traditionally overseen the training of Plastic Surgeons. Make sure to check on the credentials of your surgeon before agreeing to any procedure. It is the most important decision you will make in the entire surgery process.

Thus, by ensuring that the surgeon you select is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, you can ensure that you are in the most able and experienced hands. This means that the results from the procedure will be optimal and any possibility of risks will be minimized.