How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon for Cosmetic Surgery
How do you know if the plastic surgeon you are going to see is the right one for you? How do you know if your plastic surgeon has all the knowledge and expertise required to give you:
- the best plastic surgery result with:
- no complications
- less downtime
- less invasiveness
- less scarring
MAKE SURE YOUR PLASTIC SURGEON OR COSMETIC SURGEON:
- Is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or, in Canada, by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
- Has been in plastic surgery practice at least three years following board certification.
- Qualifies for hospital privileges to perform cosmetic plastic surgery.
- Is a member in good standing of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the society that covers the entire scope of Plastic Surgery, including reconstructive surgery.
- Is a member in good standing of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
- Has been recommended and approved for ASAPS membership by other qualified plastic surgeons. This ensures that your surgeon:
- Has experience in a wide range of cosmetic procedures.
- Operates in an accredited, state-licensed or Medicare-certified facility (or, in special circumstances, a facility in the process of accreditation).
- Has agreed to uphold a strict Code of Ethics, to maintain high standards of patient care and respect patients’ rights.
- Has earned Continuing Medical Education credits in cosmetic surgery and fulfills ongoing educational requirements.
More about How to Ensure Your Plastic Surgeon is Top Tier
Choosing to have cosmetic (aesthetic) plastic surgery is a very personal decision. Millions of people each year successfully undergo cosmetic surgery and enjoy the results of an enhanced appearance. Whether cosmetic surgery is right for you depends on many factors. We hope that the following information will help you take the first steps toward making an informed decision about cosmetic plastic surgery. It will discuss the importance of selecting a qualified surgeon and give you an idea of what to expect from your initial consultation.
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is the first and only plastic surgery organization devoted entirely to the advancement of cosmetic surgery. Founded in 1967, ASAPS has a membership of more than 1900 plastic surgeons and is recognized throughout the world as the authoritative source for cosmetic surgery education. ASAPS members are known for their skill and experience in performing cosmetic surgery of the face and body. They are a select group of plastic surgeons permitted to display the ASAPS logo, shown below, as a symbol of their achievements in the field of cosmetic plastic surgery.
Members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery are board-certified plastic surgeons. Before a doctor can be board-certified in plastic surgery, he or she must complete a minimum of five years of surgical training following medical school.
This training includes an accredited plastic surgery residency program where the surgeon masters both reconstructive and cosmetic operations. After this extensive formal education, and establishment of a plastic surgery practice, the final step to board certification is the successful completion of rigorous oral and written examinations administered by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (or, in Canada, by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada).
Not every doctor who uses the title “plastic surgeon” or “cosmetic surgeon” has been trained in plastic surgery and certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In most states, any doctor with a medical license can advertise as a plastic or cosmetic surgeon, even if the doctor has no formal surgical training.
Don’t be confused by other official-sounding boards and certifications. American Board of Plastic Surgery certification indicates a surgeon’s qualifications to perform reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery of the face and the entire body.
Members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery have the credentials that qualify them to perform the full range of cosmetic surgery. When you select an ASAPS surgeon, you can be confident that your surgeon meets all of the requirements set out above.