Plastic Surgeon: Factors To Consider When Choosing One

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a plastic surgeon

. Primary indicators of a surgeon's qualifications include their medical training and surgical experience. Other important factors are board certification, licensure designation, hospital affiliations, as well as society and board memberships.

There are wide varieties in the experience and expertise of a surgeon that performs lengthy, invasive procedures such as breast enhancement and abdominoplasty, compared to surgeons with the fine-tuned, delicate skill required for rhinoplasty and facelifts.

There are a confusing number of medical and certification boards created by and for plastic surgeons. Simply reading that a surgeon is "board certified" does not necessarily mean the same thing from one doctor to the next.

Certification boards are not created equal and state medical licensure does not limit a physician to only practicing the specialty they were trained in. Ensuring your doctor is board certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgery means he or she has passed the highest competency exams in the area of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Whether your doctor graduated from an MD or DO school may not matter. State licensing agencies and most hospitals recognize the degrees as equivalent because the curricula of both schools are nearly identical.

To be licensed to practice medicine in the United States, doctors must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a series of rigorous board examinations and receive up to an additional seven years of graduate education.

A hospital will grant privileges to a physician based on his or her capabilities, performance, experience, and accreditation. Hospitals do not grant privileges to doctors outside of their specialty training.

As such, it is often easy to check with your surgeon's affiliated hospital to ensure they have privileges to perform the type of surgery you are interested in.

As with medical and certification boards, not all professional societies are created equal. Surgeon membership in a particular society provides no guarantee of their work.

However, some professional societies require extensive surgical training and experience. It is important to note that medical societies do not grant board membership. In order for a surgeon to obtain membership, they have to be invited to participate and must maintain their membership with continuing education focusing on new procedures and patient safety.

Visit the American Board of Medical Specialties or your state's medical board website to investigate physician credentials, malpractice judgments and disciplinary actions. Facility accreditation can be verified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

by: Abigail Aaronson

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