Not all surgeons offering cosmetic procedures are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery have undergone years of extensive education and training to gain the necessary skill level needed to provide the most competent and comprehensive patient care. More specifically, board certified plastic surgeons have proven their ability by meeting the following qualifications at an efficient level:
Graduated from an accredited medical school.
Completed at least five (5) years of additional residency.
Usually three (3) years of general surgery and two (2) years of plastic surgery.
Actively practice plastic surgery for two (2) years.
Pass comprehensive written and oral examinations.
Who is the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
The American Board of Plastic Surgery is a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties. The American Board of Medical Specialties was created to support the commitment set forth to protect patients, by regulating the quality of medical education. While the intent of the American Board of Plastic Surgery is not to designate eligibility of who may perform plastic surgery procedures, it does resolve to initiate the qualifying requirements for applicants requesting certification, regulate comprehensive examinations and present certification to those who meet the establish requirements. Recognition of the Board's accreditation is held in the highest regard and once a surgeon completes the requirements, he/she is referred to as a diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. As stated by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, these diplomats are recognized to possess extensive skill in the following areas:
Congenital defects of the head and neck, including clefts of the lip and palate, and craniofacial surgery.
Neoplasms of the head and neck, including the oropharynx and training in appropriate edoscopy.
Cranio-maxillofacial trauma, including fractures of the mandible and maxilla.
Aesthetic (cosmetic) surgery of the head and neck, trunk and extremities.
Plastic surgery of the breast.
Surgery of the hand/upper extremities.
Plastic surgery of the lower extremities.
Plastic surgery of congenital and acquired defects of the truck and genitalia.
Burn managements, acute and reconstructive.
Microsurgical techniques applicable to plastic surgery.
Reconstruction by tissue transfer including flaps and grafts.
Surgery of benign and malignant lesions of the skin and soft tissue.
