Tummy Tuck Procedure: Plastic surgeon VS Dermatologist Double Board Certified in dermatology vs plastic surgery?

There is no such thing as a dermatologist that is certified in plastic surgery.  These are different specialities.  Dermatologists are not plastic surgeons.

And abdominoplasty should be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon. This is significant surgery. If your surgeon does not have privileges to perform the operation in the hospital you should not permit him to perform an in an outpatient setting.

The only board recognized by the American Medical Association for the training and certification of plastic surgeons is the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Unless your dermatologist is certified by this board, he is NOT certified in plastic surgery, in which case he probably just took a weekend course somewhere and decided to present himself as a REAL plastic surgeon.  Check credentials!  Let the buyer beware!  Don't compromise your results and cut corners with your health at stake.  Get the most qualified doctor that you can to do your procedure.

You should only have a plastic surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery perform your procedure.  There are no other legitimate certifications for plastic surgery. Do not be fooled by phony cosmetic "boards."  It is possible for a doctor to have multiple board certifications, however you need to ensure that one of them is the ABPS. You can verify certification on the American Board of Plastic Surgery website.  You can also verify to see if your surgeon is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.  From a plastic surgeon's perspective, your question is similar to asking if a family practice doctor should do your heart surgery or if an ENT physician should deliver your baby.  

Tummy tuck it is best performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. board-certified dermatologist are not surgically trained and specifically not trained in plastic surgery.

I would recommend that you visit the ASAPS and ASPS websites and type in your zip code and seek a board ceritified plastic surgeon in your area. Plastic surgeons listed on both sites are qualified board certified plastic surgeons with extensive training. You can google the terms and the sites will come up. Best of luck.

My answer is simple - I would NEVER have a dermatologist do a tummy tuck on a friend, family member or anyone for that matter. A dermatologist is not trained to do surgery more complicated than that involving the skin.A tummy tuck is major surgery. The longer a surgeon trains at his craft, the finer his skills and the better his judgment become. Board certification in Plastic Surgery (see below) is a bare minimum. Board certification in an additional surgical field recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, or for that matter “triple-board certified,” attests to a doctor’s advanced training and skill and judgment. It also means that they have attained Chief Resident Status in more than one field during their training which means they essentially ran a large departmental service and had senior decision-making and independent operating responsibilities. It is this step that is most maturing for a surgeon.The institution where the surgeon trained is also important. More renowned schools usually attract the best faculty.You can use the internet to research the background of a prospective plastic surgeon quickly. Please do this prior to making an appointment. “Just because you wear a baseball cap it doesn’t mean you are a good ball player.” The same applies to anyone wearing a white coat—it doesn’t make you a plastic surgeon, much less a great one.Caveat Emptor in Latin means “Buyer Beware.” In most states, including California, any physician with a medical school diploma and state license is viewed as a doctor and a surgeon—even without any formal surgical training. In some cases even doctors who have completed only the minimal requirements (medical school, licensing examination, and a one-year internship that need not include surgical training) are touting themselves as “cosmetic surgical experts.” They make these claims of expertise despite the fact that they are only formally trained as family practitioners, OB/Gyns, emergency physicians, dermatologists, or ear-nose-throat specialists. Even physician assistants and nurses have made such claims. See the below link on how I would choose a plastic surgeon.

Board certified plastic surgeons are extensively trained and then take series of tests to insure the surgeon has the experience and expertise to perform plastic surgery. Therefore make sure make sure your surgeon is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Thanks for your question.  You really should research your physician.  If your surgeon trained in dermatology and then did a full plastic surgery residency, then it is very likely they are qualified to do your surgery.  However, be careful and do your homework.  There are many doctors out there that claim to be "cosmetic surgeons" or "plastic surgeons" but they have not completed an accredited residency in plastic surgery which is at least 3 years of plastic surgery training, typically after a residency in general surgery, ENT, neurosurgery, oral surgery, or orthopaedic surgery.  I am not aware of any certification within dermatology that qualifies as "plastic surgery."  That doctor would have had to train for at least another 6 years after a dermatology residency to become a board certified plastic surgeon.  Good luck . 

You may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck, but additional
information and an exam are always helpful to assess candidacy.  Look at reviews and before and after pictures as well as credentials to select your surgeon.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA