How a Doctor Becomes a Certified Cosmetic Surgeon??
Knowing the credentials of a Doctor and from which medical school she/he graduated from is the basic information you want to know about. Someone graduated from Harvard is usually a good indication of that person’s intelligence.
It is well-known that to be accepted in the Plastic Surgery Residency Programs you must be graduated from medical school and be one of the top surgical residents.
To become a Cosmetic Surgeon the individual must have a Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy Degree. Then next, is to follow one of several routes where a doctor will spend up to six years in an incorporated Plastic Surgery Residency Program.
For example, a doctor will spend three (3) years in the general surgery field, and then another two (2) years in the cosmetic/plastic surgery field. Some of the terms to be familiar with are:
Orthopedic surgeons: doctors that deal with bones
Neurosurgeons: doctors that deal with the brain
Otolaryngologist surgeons: doctors in the field of ear, nose, and throat specialty.
Urologist surgeons: doctors who are specialized in the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs.
Oral surgeons: surgeons of the mouth, jaw, teeth, gums and other soft tissues of the head.
Dental surgeons: surgeons who are specialists in teeth, like, teeth implants, whitening, dental bonding and bridges, to name some.
The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)
The next step is look for a doctor who is board certified through ABPS which on top of the previous credentials mentioned above, has to complete a written test within the first year of her practice, then an oral test in the following year, and also meets the ethical and moral standards that are established by the ABPS.
There is a yearly average of 20% not passing the board certification, and most of those doctors will come back and redo the tests.
For YOU it is important to choose a cosmetic surgeon who is Board Certified as a minimum qualification. Don’t be confused with a doctor who is board certified (a good thing) and a doctor who is affiliated with professional associations/clubs/organizations!!
Many of these associations have different membership requirements, and they can vary from being too flexible to very rigorous membership requirements. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery are the primary ones with stringent membership rules. And also watch for irrelevant degrees of plastic surgeons where they are lined up next to his or her name.
A Word or Two About Self-Designated Boards
The American Board of Plastic Surgery does not recognize any of the self-designated boards. So watch out before you consult with a Cosmetic Doctor who is only certified from those Self-Designated Boards. Here is a list of some:
- The American Board of Cosmetic Breast Surgery.
- The American Board of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
- The American Board of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery.
- The American Board of Laser Surgery.
- The American Board of Plastic Esthetic Surgeons.
Not Every Legal Cosmetic Surgeon is QUALFIED
To maintain high standards and ensure the safety of patients there are three primary organizations who grant accreditation for office and freestanding facilities to perform Cosmetic Operations..
These rigorous standards are created similar to the standards of hospital’s surgical facilities in terms of safety equipment, qualified staff (for example; nurses and administrators), and qualified physicians.
There are three major organizations for accreditation which are…
- The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care
-American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities
-The Joint Commission
Photo courtesy by SarahMcD