Plastic Surgeons - What to Look For

Whether you are looking for a plastic surgeon to do a necessary or elective procedure, it is always important to know how to choose the best one for the job. When something is wrong with your car and you take it to the body shop, if you do not like the results you always have the option of taking it somewhere else to have it the work redone. However, the human body is not always as easy to correct if something is done incorrectly to it. Therefore, when you are looking at having plastic surgery, you need to make sure you choose the best medical professional the first time.

One of the most confusing aspects of medicine today, second only to deciphering health insurance requirements, is the various certifications doctors hold. Exactly what do they mean to you as a patient? In the case of plastic surgery, any doctor you are considering should hold the title of Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.

What is Board Certified and What does it Mean?

Most people today have heard that they should choose physicians who are board certified in their chosen specialty. However, many people do not understand exactly what that certification means.

To date there are only twenty-four boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS). The ABMS is the regulatory agency which oversees sub-specialty fields. The American Board of Plastic Surgery is the only certification which is recognized by the ABMS to show that a doctor's training in plastic and reconstructive surgery of the body and face was actually completed. This means that if your surgeon is certified by the ABPS, then he or she has met strict educational and examination criteria to receive such certification.

The first thing you should do when you are considering any surgeon to work on you is to call the ABMS and ask them if the surgeon you are considering has the proper credentials necessary to perform the cosmetic or reconstructive procedure. By simply giving them the name of your surgeon, they can give you this information. If the surgeon you are considering does not have the appropriate training in plastic surgery, then you should find another surgeon who does.

Doesn't the Government Regulate What Surgery a Physician can Perform?

The simple answer to the question is no. However, most people believe that there are federal regulations in place. In truth, medicine is self-governed by certification and standings through the various ABMS areas. To use the car analogy once again; just as you want your vehicle worked on by an ASE Certified Mechanic, you want your body worked on by an ABMS Certified Plastic Surgeon.

You might be surprised to learn that there are many physicians who perform these procedures but are not board certified to do so. However, many of them are board certified in other disciplines such as OB/GYN or oral surgery. And, while they may offer the best price for your procedure, you are always advised to seek out a board certified physician in plastic surgery.

In Atlanta, plastic surgeon who is Board Certified is the most important part of your cosmetic or reconstructive surgery. Knowing that your doctor has the right training gives you more than peace of mind. Check out the La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre for qualified doctors. http://www.swancenteratlanta.com


By A Aaronson