Is certification from the ASPS as good as ISAPS as an indicator of surgeon proficiency and safety?

This is a great question as it can be so confusing.  As a surgeon board certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery, I was required to complete residency in this field, sit for both oral and written board exams in this subject and am required to re-test every ten years.  Safety recommendations change over time, so re-certification is important.  This board certification is required for admittance into the ASAPS, the aesthetic "branch" of ASPS.  We also are required to complete Continuing Medical Education in our field including safety training annually and must attend courses every four years.  It is exhausting!  But these educational requirements are the reason we constantly recommend patients seek out surgeons who have these credentials.  We want every patient to have a safe and rewarding outcome!  Best of luck!!

If you feel that your face does not reflect how young you feel on the inside, a facelift may be the solution to help you look and feel younger. During your consultation, your doctor will evaluate your skin texture and elasticity, as well as your underlying skin structure and your facial bone structure. Based on this evaluation, he/she will create a custom surgical plan, detailing specific techniques and recommendations to meet your goals. Your doctor should make sure you have a full understanding of what results to expect.Always insist on a board certified surgeon!
#drright #facelift

Thanks for your question. The American Board of Plastic Surgery certifies plastic surgeons who can then go on to be members of ASPS and ASAPS. ASAPS in particular is more focused on aesthetic plastic surgery. rather than hand, craniofacial or reconstructive surgery. This is a good starting point. From there, photos, reviews and personality of the surgeon help you choose. Best of Luck!

Hello and thank you for your question.   The most important credentialing is board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  To be a full member of ASPS, your surgeon must be board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  It is very
important that you thoroughly research your surgeon before committing to
surgery. It is a good idea to research your surgeon's educational background,
online reviews, before & after pictures, and speak with anyone who you may
know who has had surgery with that surgeon. During your consultation, make sure
that you don't feel rushed and make sure that you have adequate time with your
surgeon and not just their patient coordinator or nurses. If the majority of
your consultation is spent with someone other than the surgeon, this is usually
not a good sign. The most important aspect is to find a surgeon you are
comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified
board-certified expert surgeon who can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Being a member of ASPS or ISAPS ensures that your surgeon is board certified, which is one of the most important factors. Furthermore it also means that peer plastic surgeons have vouched for them. Consider ASPS the main society. ASAPS members have a higher concentration of experience in aesthetic procedures. 

The ASPS and the ISAPS are societies.  I would recommend first looking for an experienced surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).  That is a rigorous certification process that involves extensive surgical training, written and oral board examination, ongoing medical education and review of cases.  The ASPS only admits surgeons to its society who have ABPS board certification.  

All ISAPS members in the US are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and are members of ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgery) or ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), as these are a requirement to be part of ISAPS.
Furthermore each candidate must be sponsored by at least two ISAPS members of US, to apply to ISAPS membership.

The requirements for member of ISAPS outside US are similar of those of international members of ASPS or ASAPS.

Unlike ASPS, The educational program (Meetings, Symposia, and Courses) of ISAPS is focused exclusively on Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, like ASAPS.

So, the membership requirements of the three Societies are pretty similar, however ISAPS and ASAPS are formed by surgeons who has special interest on Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Thank you for your question. The digital age has made it easy to find information about anyone and anything, but much of the information out there is inaccurate or misleading. The websites for the ABPS, ASPS and the ASAPS are great places to start. Not only can you find great information on procedures but they all have tools to determine if a surgeon is certified. 

Every one makes a big deal about board certification, but that is just the beginning of the evaluation. Certification insures a certain amount of education and experience has been completed, but does not necessarily indicate expertise. Almost everyone is certified or just about to be certified if they are fresh out of their training, so it is not really a distinguishing factor these days. That said, if they are not certified, you should be asking questions. There are various boards that do certification depending upon which field of expertise you trained in (General Plastic Surgery, ENT, Oral Surgery, Dermatology, Cosmetic Surgeons, Ophthalmology, Gynecology, etc.) They all have their particular boards with their own requirements. Each group thinks their board is the best, because that is what they trained in. There are any number of societies that one can belong to which also have some criteria that need to be met and have a degree of collegiality in that you need to be recommended by your collegues. These are all good things, but there is no replacement for skill, education, experience, and a ethics. Don't be misled by all the hype.

ASPS means more than ISAPS, as the requirements are more stringent, specifically an ASPS member must be board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  This has its own extremely strict requirements.  ASAPS and ASPS are simply societies, but do not necessarily indicate proficiency.