Is a Certification From ABCS the same as ABPS For a Mommy Makeover?

The multitude of alphabet soup organizations and boards is very confusing for patients. The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) sound nearly the same, but there are vast differences. The American Board of Plastic Surgery is a real nationally recognized board, while the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery is a self proclaimed group of individuals who wanted to try to legitimize their entry into the field of cosmetic surgery without the required legitimate credentials (actual completion of formal supervised plastic surgery training and board certification). They have specifically chosen that name for a marketing benefit based on deception.

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) oversees 24 medical specialty boards in the United States and is considered the gold standard of physician certification in the United States. While the naming of the boards seems similar, there is only one official plastic surgery board that is accepted in the U.S. and recognized by the ABMS as the standard for plastic surgery - and that is the American Board of Plastic Surgery. The designation as a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery is reserved for surgeons that have completed a lengthy surgical residency training in plastic surgery, and then passed both the official extensive written and oral examinations under the strict rules of the ABMS organization. It is the highest standard available in the U.S. for plastic surgeons. Members of the American Board of Plastic Surgery are listed on both the ABPS’ and ABMS’ websites.

The ABCS and several other so-called boards with similar sounding names are not recognized by the ABMS.  ABCS is a self-designated "board" that "certifies" physicians of various specialties who wish to perform cosmetic surgery procedures--doctors who may have minimal if any true surgical training (and often only via weekend "courses”). They accept and credential physicians who do not necessarily have residency training in plastic surgery including general surgeons, emergency medicine doctors, family practitioners dermatologists, obstetric-gynecologists and others who can take their "certification" exam...without ever having undergone a single day of plastic surgery residency training. In some cases they have no formal surgery residency training at all.

Furthermore, there are no cosmetic surgery certifications that are recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialists, nor is there any “board”, organization or academy that has the word “cosmetic” in it that is recognized by the ABMS. In addition the Medical Board of California formally rejected the ABCS’ application and request to be recognized as having legitimate board status. That rejection was legally upheld.

An additional understanding of the alphabet of valid plastic surgical organizations is beneficial. Members of the American Board of Plastic Surgery are able to become members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Membership is an indication of appropriate prerequisite plastic surgery training, board certification and adherence to a board of ethical practice guidelines. Members of the American Society of plastic surgery can be found at the American Society of Plastic Surgery web site. 

Board certified plastic surgeons in the United States as well as certified plastic surgeon from other countries can become members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). These surgeons have appropriate prerequisite plastic surgery training, board certification, adherence to a board of ethical practice guidelines, and a specific focus and experience in aesthetic (cosmetic) plastic surgery.

Since there are risks in any surgical procedure and no one can guarantee a perfect result, a patient should seek the most fully trained individual for plastic surgical procedures like a “mommy makeover” to maximize the probability of a good outcome. Your health and well being depend on it. If a member of my family or staff were to undergo the procedure, I would insist that they seek out a real plastic surgeon who is board certified as a diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

 

Robert Singer, MD  FACS

 

Please do your homework!  The American Board of Plastic Surgery requires rigorous training and testing for all of their surgeons.  The "other" board pretty much lets anyone into their "club" without the same training as a board certified plastic surgeon!!!!

It is very confusing for the average patient to understand the variety of letters that go along with credentialing in this country. It's like alphabet soup.

The American Board of plastic surgery is the only board in the country that certifies board certified plastic surgeons. Their initials are ABPS. Members of the American Board of plastic surgery are listed on their website.

Members of the American Board of plastic surgery are able to become members of the American Society of plastic surgery or the ASPS. The logo for the ASPS is plastered all over this website. Members of the American Society of plastic surgery can be viewed at the American Society for plastic surgery web site.  This is an indication of ethical standing and appropriate prerequisite training.

Board certified plastic surgeons in the United States as well as certified plastic surgeon from other countries can become members of ASAPS the American Society for aesthetic plastic surgery whose members can be found at their website. This represents a specific interest in cosmetic or aesthetic plastic surgery.

Now here's where it gets even more confusing. The American Board of plasticsurgery is held to the standards of the ABMS or the American Board of medical specialties.

The American Board of medical specialties basically oversees 24 medical specialty boards in the United States and considers itself the gold standard of Physician certification in the United States.

So if I were going to have cosmetic or any other plastic surgery I would want to find a board certified or board eligible plastic surgeon who is certified, or going to be certified, by the American Board of plastic surgery, (which is recognized by the American Board of medical specialties.)

I would like it if that surgeon were a member of the American Society of plastic surgery which is a recognition of good ethical standing and appropriate requisite requirements.

If I were having aesthetic surgery I would also be looking for surgeon who was a member of the American Society for aesthetic plastic surgery which indicates a special interest in aesthetic or cosmetic surgery.

I would also want to like and be comfortable with that surgeon.

The board certified or board eligible plastic surgeon credential is the most important part because it takes a while for physicians to gain the credentialing they need after they begin practice to become certified and go on to become members of the ASPS and the ASAPS. A board eligible surgeon just usually means that they are at the beginning of their career, but it doesn't mean they're not good at what they do.

So in your situation, the American Board of cosmetic surgery does not fall into the guidelines that I listed above and is not a board that is recognized by the American Board of medical specialties.

I hope that this helps to clarify for you what is indeed a very confusing set of letters.