| When you want to find a good plastic surgeon, | | | | work. |
| everybody tells you, "Make sure that they are | | | | |
| certified." Certification is one of the most | | | | If you see a plastic surgery clinic whose |
| important things to look for in a plastic | | | | prices are way lower than the rest, this |
| surgeon, but what does it mean? | | | | might be a tip-off that they've got a doctor |
| | | | performing cosmetic procedures, but this |
| Most often, you will hear people talk about | | | | doctor may not be certified by the American |
| "board certification." If a doctor is board | | | | Board of Plastic Surgery. |
| certified, that means that they are trained | | | | |
| to do certain types of procedures. | | | | When choosing a plastic surgeon, this is what |
| | | | you should look for. Make sure they are board |
| There is a different board certification for | | | | certified by the American Board of Plastic |
| every type of medical practice, and these | | | | Surgery. Otherwise, you might have surgery |
| have been established by the American Board | | | | from someone not trained in that specialty. |
| of Medical Specialists (ABMS). | | | | |
| | | | How Do I Find Out If My Surgeon Is Qualified? |
| For example, there is a board for | | | | |
| dermatology, one for OB/GYN, one for | | | | There is an easy way to see where and how |
| pediatrics, and so on. Likewise, there is the | | | | your cosmetic surgeon is certified. You can |
| American Board of Plastic Surgery, and that | | | | call the American Board of Medical |
| is what you want to look for. | | | | Specialists toll free. If you give them the |
| | | | name of the surgeon, they can tell you when |
| Don't Let A Dermatologist Do Your Plastic | | | | and where they were certified to perform |
| Surgery! | | | | cosmetic surgery. |
| | | | |
| Here is a warning, the government does not | | | | Also, make sure that they are certified by |
| regulate who can practice cosmetic surgery or | | | | the American Board of Plastic Surgery. They |
| where they can do it. In other words, all of | | | | also have a toll free number and contact |
| these certification boards involve certain | | | | information on their web site. |
| training programs that ensure the doctor is | | | | |
| fully trained in that specialized area. | | | | There are other boards, like the Board of |
| | | | Facial Cosmetic Surgery, that have not been |
| But, where a board certified doctor can | | | | approved yet by the ABMS. These boards are |
| practice is not mandated by law. This | | | | far less strict in their training, and in |
| decision is totally up to the hospitals and | | | | some cases offer surgeons a less expensive |
| clinics who hire doctors. | | | | and less intensive way to get certified. |
| | | | Until recognized by the ABMS, it's best to |
| This means that a dermatologist could be | | | | not consider these certificates. |
| working in a cosmetic surgery clinic - The | | | | |
| dermatologist would be "board certified" but | | | | If you let an uncertified doctor practice on |
| certified only in dermatology unless it | | | | you, you may end up with complications after |
| specified American Board of Plastic Surgery | | | | surgery, or you may find that the job is |
| Certified. | | | | lacking the quality you expected. Make sure |
| | | | that you get the beautiful cosmetic procedure |
| The good news is that no reputable plastic | | | | you want, and check to see if the doctor is |
| surgery clinic would hire another type of | | | | certified in that specialty. |
| doctor to perform their cosmetic surgery | | | | |