Look for a doctor trained by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

In America, there are many competing forces that act to influence which laws are passed: lobbyists from organizations, restraint of trade laws, etc. The lawmakers will simply not protect you from having any surgery done by any doctor or dentist, no matter how minimal their qualifications. By the time the Medical Board and malpractice attorneys have caught up with unqualified doctors, these doctors have often disfigured hundreds of patients over many years. I have seen the work of several such doctors, and they are often very slick advertisers. The one constant the patients have noted is that they had a bad feeling about the surgery but went ahead with it anyway.

Somebody who would go to an oral surgeon for a breast reduction surgery has not done their basic homework: to find a board certified plastic surgeon to do their work. Sadly, they have suffered the consequences.

As a comsumer, you can empower yourself by simply doing a little research on your doctor before going to the appointment. Are they board certified in plastic surgery? Go on the American Board of Plastic Surgery website, it only takes a second. Do they have hospital credentials? Call the hospital and confirm, it only takes a second. It is a good idea to meet with several surgeons before making your decision. Look at before and after pictures. Read the doctor's CV (resume). Where did he go to school? Where did he do his residency? Did his staff try to explain the options to you or hard sell you a surgery? The right doctor will be surprisingly easy to choose. If you have really done your homework and there are several fine surgeons to choose from, consider yourself lucky to have that problem, rather than to be in the dentist's office preop for a breast reduction.

If in doubt, do not proceed. As you can see from this post and others, this may be the most important decision of your life.

As the popularity of plastic surgery has increased over the past several years, more and more providers are trying to get involved in the specialty of plastic surgery. These providers can range from spa personnel with no medical training, to physicians trained in non-plastic surgical specialties. Unfortunately, any licensed physician can call themselves a plastic surgeon, regardless of their lack of training in the field of plastic surgery. Certainly, it is in the patient's best interest to find a caregiver that is an expert in their field.

In the world of contemporary advertising, it is relatively easy for any physician to give the impression that he or she is qualified in plastic surgery. While "Board Certification" is an important credential that any patient should seek in their physician, a provider who is "Boarded" in another specialty, but not by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, can easily mislead the patient. It is easy to become confused by a statement that says a physician is a "Board Certified Plastic Surgeon" when in fact he or she has been certified by a non-plastic surgery board and has had no formal training in plastic surgery.

Becoming certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery is a very difficult process. It is no wonder that some providers have not or can not achieve this goal. In order to be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a physician must, among other things:

1. Be properly licensed as an MD or DO
2. Undergo training programs in prerequisite surgery in addition to specific training in the field of plastic surgery, a total of which ranges between 5 and 10 or more years in length following medical school
3. Limit his or her practice to the field of plastic surgery
4. Undergo rigorous written examinations, as well as a multi-day oral examination which includes examination of the physician's practice
5. Practice in accordance with the strict ethical codes established by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
6. Provide evidence of ongoing continuing education in the field of plastic surgery

So what have other doctors done instead of becoming certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?

Aside from the misleading advertising practices listed above, some groups of physicians have created their own "Boards". One of these, American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, does require significant and proper training in the field of plastic surgery that is limited to the head and neck region. The majority of these physicians are originally trained in Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery and have good and safe knowledge of this region of the body. Other Boards, such as the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, accepts physicians that have had residency training in areas of medicine that do not even emphasize surgical practice.

So how can a patient be sure of their physician's training, ethics, and certification?

There are two important things to look for when evaluating a plastic surgeon. The first and most important is to figure out which Board has certified the doctor. A patient who finds that their doctor is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery can be assured that he or she has undergone the proper training in plastic surgery, passed the demanding plastic surgical examination process, and continued to practice with a very high level of ethical standards.

Secondly, patients should look for their provider to be a member of The American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), which is the largest organizational and educational society of plastic surgeons who have been certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. All members of the American Society of Plastic Surgery are required to be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Additionally, physicians who belong to this organization have committed themselves to further interests of ongoing plastic surgery education, plastic surgery research, and patient safety in plastic surgery.

Sadly, this story is a predictable outcome of a surgical procedure being performed by an un-qualified individual, most likely in an un-licensed setting. Unfortunately, the patient in this case did not do her basic homework to check the credentials of the "surgeon", and may have been lured in by a surgical fee that was "too good to be true".

Just as you wouldn't board an airplane piloted by a bus driver, you shouldn't have any type of surgery without knowing the qualifications of your doctor. Nationally-recognized certifying organizations such as the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), and state medical boards, commonly have websites where patients can verify the board certification status of their physicians. Patients should also ask whether the doctor has privileges to perform the same operation in a local hospital - this is a good indicator as to the legitimacy of the doctor's training and board certification status.

Even the best Plastic Surgeon is not someone I would want performing Neurosurgery on me. Nor is the world's greatest Oral Surgeon likely to be a good breast surgeon, so why take a chance? Do your homework, and avoid the nasty kick in the teeth of a predictably bad result (or worse!) by an unqualified surgeon!

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