What does the term board-certified plastic surgeon mean? Aren't all plastic surgeons "board-certified"?

You should know that physicians may call themselves "plastic surgeons" even if they were trained in a nonsurgical specialty. Anyone who has a medical license can call himself or herself a surgeon, even if he or she has no formal training in surgery.

Some of these physicians without plastic surgery training may perform cosmetic surgery in their offices, but do not have privileges to perform these procedures at an accredited hospital.

Physicians who are trained in plastic surgery, and board-certified by the ABPS, may also perform cosmetic surgery procedures in their offices. However, these trained and board certified plastic surgeons will also have hospital privileges at accredited hospitals. You should ask about - and check on - your plastic surgeon's credentials and hospital privileges before undergoing any treatment or surgery. It is important that your doctor has hospital privileges to perform the proposed procedure, even in-office procedures. Hospitals give doctors privileges to do procedures that fit under their training guidelines

When we refer to a plastic surgeon as "board-certified", we mean one who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The ABPS is the only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to certify physicians in the full range of plastic and reconstructive procedures. To be certified by the ABPS, a physician must have at least five years of approved surgical training, including a residency in plastic surgery. He or she must also pass a comprehensive written and oral exams in plastic surgery.

Your surgeon should complete a residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). In addition, the surgeon should be comfortable performing the procedure in which the patient is interested. Having the right credentials does not necessarily mean the doctor is skilled in specific types of surgery.

Learn more from the American Board of Medical Specialties: ABMS.org

Read the answers to frequently asked questions about board-certification oon the official web site of the ABPS:
American Board of Plastic Surgery

Often portrayed as a "turf battle," the issue of training and credentials in plastic surgery is actually an issue of public safety about which responsible doctors are necessarily concerned. Would you want your plastic surgery performed by someone who has never had any formal surgical training? It can easily happen ...

Thank you to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (Adeena, August 17, 2004) for permission to use this press release.

FACS: What does F.A.C.S. after a surgeon's name mean?
Members of the American College of Surgeons are referred to as "Fellows."
The letters FACS (Fellow, American College of Surgeons) after a surgeon's name mean that the surgeon's education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence, and ethical conduct have passed a rigorous evaluation, and have been found to be consistent with the high standards established and demanded by the College.
Source: American College of Surgeons: www.FACS.org

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BoardCertifiedPlasticSurgeon.com is a very limited and exclusive Directory of plastic surgeons who specialize in cosmetic surgery. Surgeons are listed by city and state and must be board-certified in plastic surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Our directory is limited to board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States who chose to be listed on our pages and who took the necessary steps:

1. Qualified through our: State Medical Board check for:
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