Board certified vs Board eligible - what's the difference?

Board certified means that the physician has had all the required training and has passed the certifying exam that sets specific standards of excellence. Board eligible means that the surgeon has taken all the required training and now is eligible to sit for the exam. Not all surgeons pass this exam, which is both written and an oral questions, and involves, for plastic surgeons, review of surgical cases performed.

Very good question.
Board certified means that your surgeon complete an accredited Plastic Surgery residency/fellowship, passed both his written and oral board exams.
Board eligible is a surgeon who completed their approved residency and who has not yet passed both written and oral exams or has not accrued enough solo cases to be considered for their oral exams yet. Many surgeons take two or three years to complete enough cases to qualify for both exams. Some exams were delayed by Covid as well.
Best wishes.
Dr. Taranow