What does "fellow" mean on a American boards of cosmetic surgery diploma?

Question

What does "fellow" mean on a American boards of cosmetic surgery diploma? Does it mean they are board certified? Less certified? More certified? I'm freaking out my mommy makeover is coming so fast I should know these things right?

Michael S. Beckenstein, MD · Answer

A fellow is a member of the board or college which means he/she meets the boards criteria to become a member and remain a member in good standing.Anyone can form a board and admit fellows but here is where you the patient needs to become educated. The ABMS is the sanctioning body for over 24 medical specialities. These boards require their members complete a certified residency training program and pass the requisite board examination in that specialty. All ABMS boards fulfill these requirements. If you see a physician is board certified by an ABMS specialty, you know this doctor has satisfied the requirement of a board examination followed by a residency. So a board certified plastic surgeon who is a member of the American Board of Plastic Surgery has completed a certified residency and passed the rigid board exam. These are real plastic surgeons.physicians who are fellows of the American Board of Cosmetic surgery have not necessarily completed a plastic surgery residency and passed a board examination. It is not an ABMS sanctioned specialty. Gynecologists, dermatologists, oral surgeons, family practitioners, and general doctors can meet criteria to become a fellow of cosmetic surgery. They may have taken a few training courses in cosmetic surgery but have not completed the real plastic surgery residencies nor passed the ABMS sanctioned plastic surgery board Make sure your surgeon is a member of a board you are comfortable with. ABMS recognized surgeons who are members of the AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY are the only ones who completed residency in plastic surgery and passed the examination.

Paul M. Parker, MD, FACS · Answer

Best advice is to be sure your surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

The certification carries no meaning.  Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery is the gold standard and the only medical specialty that is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Be Care of "imitations"!

Scott C. Sattler, MD, FACS · Answer

In general, if someone is a 'Fellow' of a medical society, he/she has been certified by the related medical examination board. 'Cosmetic Surgeons' are not plastic surgeons - make sure you carefully review the credentials of the individual that you have consulted with. If you're looking for a board certified plastic surgeon, that individual is unlikely to be a 'cosmetic surgery' organization. Plastic Surgeons typically are 'Fellows' of the American College of Surgeons (but not always). Totally confusing, I know.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

.A fellow of the American Board of plastic surgery would be considered board-certified. This is a good place to start when looking for an elective aesthetic procedure

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Look for a plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Luis Macias, MD, FACS · Answer

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is the organization which oversees the 24 member boards.  The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is one of the 24 and is the only board within the ABMS which certifies plastic surgeons.  In order to become board-certified by the ABPS, a surgeon would completed a residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery, pass rigorous written as well as oral examinations, and maintenance of certification through continued education.  Some of those who call themselves "cosmetic" surgeons may be "board-certified" by a AMBS board, but you may be surprised to find out that it may be in obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery or internal medicine.   Most would not be comfortable with a gynecologist or cardiologist performing their plastic surgery.  The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, is not a member of the ABMS. It is a board that was established so that non-plastic surgeons could call themselves "board-certified" in cosmetic surgery. Unfortunately not all "boards" are equal and the public is often deceived. Congrats on doing your homework.  The website link below is to the ABMS and it will tell you if your surgeon is ABMS certified and in what.  Hope this helps and best wishes.

Robert Singer, MD · Answer

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 necessarily having the required
legitimate credentials (actual completion of formal supervised plastic surgery
training and board certification). In my opinion and that of most plastic surgeons, 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. Robert Singer, MD  FACSLa Jolla, California

Josef Hadeed, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your very important question.  There are many physicians who claim they are board certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.  This, in my opinion, is misleading to the public.  These physicians have not completed formal training in a plastic surgery residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).  Only physicians who have completed a formal plastic surgery residency, and who have passed both a written AND an oral examination, are allowed to claim that they are board certified in PLASTIC surgery.  Be aware of the difference between cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery.  Furthermore, plastic surgeons who have become board certified after 1995 are required to re-certify every 10 years, and submit evidence of maintenance of certification through continuing medical education credits.  You should be commended for asking this important question.  If you are considering a mommy makeover, then I would recommend seeking a consultation with a physician who is board certified in plastic surgery.  Refer to the American Board of Medical Specialties website, or the American Board of Plastic Surgery website, to see if your surgeon is board certified in plastic surgery.  Best wishes and be safe.

Shaun Parson, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. Cosmetic surgeons are not equivalent to plastic surgeons. They have minimal requirements compared to the requirements set forth by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In fact, all of the major Arizona hospitals won't give Cosmetic surgeons hospital privledges to practice or admit at their facilities. Be careful that you are comparing people with appropriate training.

What does "fellow" mean on a American boards of cosmetic surgery diploma?

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