Should I be concerned with how long my plastic surgeon has been certified?

Yes and no. With certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery you have the assurance that the doctor is well trained in all aspects of plastic surgery, has gone through a five to seven year general and plastic surgery residency, has been evaluated at every step of the training process, and passed along to become a competent ethical surgeon. The certification process tests the graduate plastic surgeon with comprehensive written and oral examinations by senior experts in the field of plastic surgery.Experience does count a lot, because a lot of good experience is gained by trying to improve one's own outcomes, surgery being a constant educational and honing of skills process.You can use your own judgement, get some referrals, see before and after pictures, and choose your surgeon by the same criteria you would choose a surgeon of any length of certification. Younger surgeons are very eager to do a good job, establish a reputation, and build their careers.

  Some experts are younger than others.   If your surgeon cannot show you many before and after pictures and reviews, then you really need to trust that surgeon.   Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA