While a doctor may call himself/herself a “plastic surgeon” or perform cosmetic type procedures in his office, unless he/she is board certified they do not have hospital privileges.

When we refer to a plastic surgeon as “board-certified”, we mean one who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). The ABPS is the only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to certify physicians in the full range of plastic and reconstructive procedures.

To be certified by the ABPS, a physician must have at least five years of approved surgical training, including a residency in plastic surgery. He or she must also pass comprehensive written and oral exams in plastic surgery.

Your surgeon should complete a residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). In addition, the surgeon should be comfortable performing the procedure in which the patient is interested. Having the right credentials does not necessarily mean the doctor is skilled in specific types of surgery.  You must do your due diligence when choosing a plastic surgeon.  Even if the physician is board certified, it is not a guarantee for perfect results.