Why it's Important to Choose a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon (09-2005)
Regardless of your reason for visiting a plastic surgeon, whether you need elective or non-elective surgery, you have a right to expect safe, predictable and favorable results. Albeit many factors may affect the results of your surgery, one critical factor in your having that assurance is the experience and skills of the surgeon you select. Although it certainly is important to get recommendations from family and friends and to do whatever research you can about the surgeons available to you, one thing can significantly add to your confidence level; that is choosing of a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
You may not know that in most states a person can practice of "medicine and surgery" with just a state license. The states leave specialist accreditation to “specialty boards,” whose responsibility it is supposed to be to review its members’ training, credentials, and ethics and to administer exams and maintain the certification of its member specialist.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine whether or not a surgeon is board certified, because some of today’s marketing in which the word "Board" is used, does not refer to true board certification. There even are organizations which offer “certification” to physicians, and sometimes even non-physicians, for a fee. Of course, these boards are bogus. They do not make members go through an examination process, not do they require members to meet the educational standards and requirements which are required by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. The “validity” of these “boards,” is confirmed by the fact that most medical organizations, insurance companies, and regulatory agencies do not recognize accreditation by a board other than the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
One way to make certain that your plastic surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, is to go online to www. ABMS.org, which opens membership only to board certified plastic surgeons. The assurance you get with a surgeon who is legitimately board certified and/or a member of ASPS, is the knowledge that he or she is held to the highest standards, is required to take continuing medical education classes, is experienced, and must uphold a set of ethical standards. Choosing a surgeon certified by the ABPS is a way for you to be sure that you will be placing yourself in the hands of a consummate professional. Don’t settle for anything less for yourself.
You may not know that in most states a person can practice of "medicine and surgery" with just a state license. The states leave specialist accreditation to “specialty boards,” whose responsibility it is supposed to be to review its members’ training, credentials, and ethics and to administer exams and maintain the certification of its member specialist.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine whether or not a surgeon is board certified, because some of today’s marketing in which the word "Board" is used, does not refer to true board certification. There even are organizations which offer “certification” to physicians, and sometimes even non-physicians, for a fee. Of course, these boards are bogus. They do not make members go through an examination process, not do they require members to meet the educational standards and requirements which are required by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. The “validity” of these “boards,” is confirmed by the fact that most medical organizations, insurance companies, and regulatory agencies do not recognize accreditation by a board other than the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
One way to make certain that your plastic surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, is to go online to www. ABMS.org, which opens membership only to board certified plastic surgeons. The assurance you get with a surgeon who is legitimately board certified and/or a member of ASPS, is the knowledge that he or she is held to the highest standards, is required to take continuing medical education classes, is experienced, and must uphold a set of ethical standards. Choosing a surgeon certified by the ABPS is a way for you to be sure that you will be placing yourself in the hands of a consummate professional. Don’t settle for anything less for yourself.
