How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon for your Plastic Surgery or Cosmetic Surgery?

Guidance information to assist women in selecting the right plastic surgeon to perform a particular procedure.
Part II

Research your Plastic Surgeon.

Once you have developed a list of potential physicians, you need to research the physicians. One of the best places to start this process is at United States Medical Boards websites. The United States Medical Boards usually keep an on-line profile of every licensed allopathic physician. This report will identify the status of the physicians license, list where the physician received formal education, identifies the area of medicine in which the physician received formal training, i.e. plastic surgery, cosmetic procedures, family practice, geriatrics, etc. The physicians profile also identifies if the physician is Board Certified in a specific specialty by a Board that is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). If such a Board does not certify the physician, the physician may list a field of practice in which the physician focuses. The web report also confirms whether the physician has been disciplined, paid on a medical malpractice claim or verdict or received a criminal conviction.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeons.

If a doctor is Board Certified by a Board recognized by the ABMS, this indicates that he or she has completed a residency or fellowship in a particular specialty and has passed examination with a score higher than that required for licensure. In addition to this, some physicians have to re-qualify for Board Certification every few years to show continuing competency in the specialty. Please note that not all Boards that certify physicians are recognized by the ABMS, and these Boards may not enforce the higher standards of training and examination, however, some non-ABMS Boards do have high standards for certification. Therefore, if the physician is not Board certified by an ABMS Board, you need to investigate the Board to establish if it is a legitimate organization. A number of physicians licensed to practice medicine in United States do cosmetic surgery procedures successfully. A number of of these physicians may not be Board Certified, but they have had sufficient training and have sufficient skills to perform cosmetic procedures safely. Therefore, Board Certification alone does not show if the physician is capable to perform a particular plastic surgery procedure, but it is one important aspect to consider.

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