The initials “MD” is a title that conveys a profound sense of authority. Patients with limited fluency in medical vernacular recognize this title and respect, trust, and confide in the doctor. When undergoing a cosmetic plastic surgery, the physician is expected to administer the best possible care using his/her expertise. However, not all surgeons share the same level of expertise in the world of cosmetic surgery.
Not all surgeons share the same level of expertise
It is therefore necessary to choose a surgeon that is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons (ABPS) and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) to ensure that you are receiving the best quality care from a doctor that upholds medical excellence at the highest degree.
ABMS – American Board of Medical Specialties
The ABPS is an organization devoted to promoting “safe, ethical, and efficacious plastic surgery to the public”, and it is a part of American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). ABPS awards certifications to physicians who have completed extensive oral and written examinations, residency, and fellowship in their chosen specialty. Throughout training, all residents are assessed on core competencies on a regular basis. There are also annual in-service exams given by ABPS, a prelude to the final written board exam at the end of residency. If the written test is passed, the resident proceeds to the oral board exam. The board requires each resident to present a report of patient procedures, complications, and outcomes during a collection period of about 10 months. A handful of the residents’ own procedures are chosen, and a few unknown procedures are added to evaluate competency. Certification is granted after these examinations with the condition that physicians do an annual activity as a part of Maintenance of Certification (MOC) as well as a Continued Medical Educations (CME). These two factors keep physicians accountable to uphold medical ethics, stay current with medical innovations, and grow new avenues within the existing medical field. A board certification also requires re-certification every 10 years, further guaranteeing efficacious care from each doctor. Board certification by the ABPS is particularly important when choosing a cosmetic procedure because of the way cosmetic surgery is viewed by insurance companies. Since cosmetic surgery is not covered by insurance, it is considered outside of the traditional system of healthcare, that being a hospital system. All physicians at medical facilities must be approved by either the insurance company itself or the hospital/ambulatory facility staff to confirm that the surgeon is board certified while they’re practicing. This is a given in such settings. However, a problem arises when the patient begins to seek cosmetic procedures from practices that are not obligated by insurance to be board certified.
ASPS – American Society of Plastic Surgeons
In order to be certified in cosmetic procedures, a physician must be a part of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). This organization aims to “advance quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery” while educating and supporting physicians. Membership requirements include ABPS certification, passed written and oral exams, at least six years of surgical training following surgical school with a minimum of three years of plastic surgery residency training, and continuing medical education with annual patient safety examinations. Therefore, a physician who takes an extra step to achieve membership at this level earns an additional level of credibility in the world of cosmetic plastic surgery not granted by ABPS. You can rest assured that your surgeon’s board certification is like a stamp of approval verifying that you are in the hands of someone who is knowledgeable, competent, and makes ethical decisions in times of uncertainty. Be sure to seek the best care that you deserve!