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Help! Just Found out my ''plastic Surgeon'' is Not Board Certified

asked 1 year ago by ash288 in Tucson, Az
Latest answer by Farhad Rafizadeh, MD
Question viewed 344 times
Tags: board certification, credentials, doctor, qualifications

I already put down $1,000 & I have my surgery scheduled. I've been thinking about a tummy tuck for a couple years,& visited this same doctor 2 years ago. At the time his receptionist told me he was a board certified plastic surgeon. When I looked online it said board certified, but I just found out that it only says board certified next to optamologist and not plastic surgery. I found about 8 reviews on him and they were all really bad. I don't know what to do but I don't want to lose my 1,000.

16 answers to Help! Just Found out my ''plastic Surgeon'' is Not Board Certified

+2

Board Certified plastic surgeon for tummy tuck

Tummy tuck is not a simple plastic surgery procedure. Those plastic surgeons who are board certified have to not only show experties and experience in plastic surgery but also sound judgement. There are two reasons why a plastic surgeon is not board certified. Either they are very early in their practice and have not yet taken their boards, or that they were not able become board certified. Each one of this factors are important in making your decision with respect to safety and expected... more
S. Sean Younai, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.beautifulself.com

+2

Non board certified plastic surgeon to perform tummy tuck

It would be my advice not to undergo an abdominoplasty with a surgeon who is not board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Your discovering this fact now may be the cheapest $1000 you ever spent. If their office represented to you they were board certified plastic surgeons and they are not, you may request your money back.
Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

+1

Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery is best

A tummy tuck should be performed by a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  You should NOT have this procedure done by an eye doctor. If you can not recover your deposit, at least be happy that you will only lose some money; and hopefully nothing else. I'm sure there are several qualified plastic surgeons in your area. I would surggest meeting with at least two or three until you are comfortable. Best wishes, Dr. Bruno
William Bruno, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.williambrunomd.com

+2

"Plastic surgeon" is actually an ophthalmologist!

Thank heavens you have obtained this information prior to proceeding with surgery! I know that the vast majority of Board-certified ophthalmologists would be aghast at what their "colleague" is doing--they properly practice within their training and expertise, not in a self-designated field completely different from their training and certification in Ophthalmology. As you have found out, being Board-certified is not enough--you need to know Board-certified in WHAT. Also, by... more
Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

+2

Surgeon misrepresented his credentials and you should get full refund of deposit for a tummy tuck

Fortunately, you discovered this "deception" prior to surgery - something many others have not been so lucky to find out about. It is very common for non-plastic surgeons who are performing plastic surgery to misrepresent their credentials in order to "close the deal", a practice which is unethical. Finding that all of his reviews were bad further supports this issue - to your benefit. You should be able to demand that you get your entire deposit back. If he balks,... more
Steven Turkeltaub, MD

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

+2

Special circumstance

Sounds like you can appeal to him to return your money.  He may not.  I would report him to the Department of Professional Regulation in your state for misleading and deceptive practices.  I would also report him to the Better Business Bureau. All the best, Tal Raine MD FACS
Talmage J. Raine, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+2

Help, my plastic surgeon is not board certified?

I'm glad you discovered this prior to your surgery.If he is board certified in ophthalmology there's a good chance that a tummy tuck was not one of the procedures he/she was trained in during the residency. You can go to the plastic  surgery website and look up his name and certification. You should be able to get your money back based on deceiving information given to you. If there's loss of trust, do not have your surgery with this surgeon. If your money is not refunded, I... more
George Marosan, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon
+1

I went to a plastic surgeon for a tummy tuck but I found he is an ophthalmologist?

Board certification has a meaning, only if you know what board you are talking about. There is only one plastic surgery board that is approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).ABMS.org. This board is called  American The Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)  abps.org. Any doctor can claim that they are bourd certified. YOU CAN FIND ALL KINDS OF BOARDS that are not approved by ABMS. You don't even need to be a specialist. All doctors take the... more
Farhad Rafizadeh, MD

Morristown Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Ash, am glad you did your research before your surgery. It would have been better to do the research before the appointment. As you probably know, any licensed physician can claim to be a cosmetic surgeon. This is because Cosmetic surgery is not a medical specialty by ABMS, but a part of Plastic surgery. Always look for a Plastic Surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In terms of your deposit, I would suggest discussing this with the physician and requesting a refund... more
Stanley Okoro, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

www.georgiaplastic.com

+1

Board Certification

It is hard to tell from your question, but are you saying that you were going to an ophthalmologist for a tummy tuck / abdominoplasty and you are surprised that they are not board certified in plastic surgeon?  I am quite certain that most people would not go to an ophthalmologist for a tummy tuck.  Just as most people would not go to a plastic surgeon to have their vision tested.  It is good that you researched the doctor, but it might have been more prudent to do the... more
David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

+1

Tummy tuck

If he is an ophthalmologist, I would not have him do my tummy tuck. Tha is like having an internist do your brain surgery when you should be going to a neurosurgeon.  Go find a board certified plastic surgeon on the ASPS or ASAPS website that works in your area.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Eye doctor trying to do a tummy tuck

Ophthalmologists have no formal training in any type of body procedures.  I would strongly suggest you ask for your money back.  Even if the doctor would not return your money, I would not proceed with surgery.  Make sure your surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery   Samer W. Cabbabe, M.D. Board - certified plastic surgeon St Louis Plastic Surgery Consutants  
Samer W. Cabbabe, MD

Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Board-certification

There are two sides to this problem you face. One is you want a board-certified surgeon and so the question is if board-certification is a necessity for your surgery. While there are great surgeons who are not board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and some not -so-good surgeons who are board-certified, and while ALL plastic surgeons at one time or another in there professional life were not board-certified (since it takes some experience in practice to be eligible to be... more
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

How To Check Board Certification

You have encountered an all too frequent problem.  Practioners are board-certified, but in areas other than plastic surgery.  Some states are addressing this problem, but most have not.  In order to check the board certification, you can log onto the Board's website   You should be able to get a refund on your deposit.  If you have problem, contact your state board of medical licensure.
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Help! Just Found out my ''plastic Surgeon'' is Not Board Certified

You should be thankful you discovered this before paying thousands of more $'s. Ask for a full refund based upon false information. Contact the medical board in AZ file a compliant as to false and deceptive advertising. Be happy it cost you ONLY a $1,000. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl J. Blinski, boarded by ABPS in 1983. 
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Board certification

The credential that matters is board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) Many surgeons are double board-certified, for example in general surgery and plastic surgery, or ENT and plastic surgery. However, I personally think certification by the ABPS is the single most important credential to legitimize a plastic surgeon. I can not advise you about your $1000. I would start with direct discussion with the doctor's office regarding your concerns. more
Tim Abou-Sayed, MD

Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

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