American Society of Plastic Surgeons

In most states, a licensed physician may perform plastic surgery without being board-certified in plastic surgery. Just because a doctor is board-certified does not mean he or she is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).

All members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons are certified by the ABPS or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The ABPS is the only one of the 24 boards approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties that certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body.

To be ABPS board-certified, a physician must meet these rigid requirements:

• Graduate from an accredited medical school
• Complete a combination of at least five years of general surgery and plastic surgery residency training in accredited residency programs
• Pass comprehensive oral and written exams

Besides certification, membership in ASPS requires a plastic surgeon to regularly attend continuing medical education courses and to adhere to a strict code of ethics. All ASPS members are required to perform surgery in accredited surgical facilities.

To make sure your surgeon has these outstanding qualifications, look for the ASPS logo at the top of this section, the mark of distinction in cosmetic surgery.

American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

The requirements for membership in the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) are designed to encourage application by trained and experienced plastic surgeons who concentrate their practices in performing cosmetic plastic surgery of the face and the entire body. ASAPS membership remains an exclusive privilege for those surgeons who possess the necessary qualifications. Only about one-quarter of all American Board of Plastic Surgery certified surgeons have been accepted into ASAPS membership. Physicians who have been trained in specialties other than plastic surgery are not eligible for membership in ASAPS

Among the requirements for invitation and election to ASAPS membership, a plastic surgeon must:

• Be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or, in plastic surgery by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada*
• Be in at least the third year of active practice following board certification
• Participate in accredited Continuing Medical Education (CME) to stay current with developments in the field of cosmetic plastic surgery
• Document the performance of a significant number and variety of cosmetic surgical cases to demonstrate wide experience;
• Be sponsored by two ASAPS-member plastic surgeons to help ensure that the applicant's professional reputation meets the high standards required by ASAPS
• Adhere to current ethical standards for professional conduct as outlined in the Code of Ethics observed by all ASAPS-member surgeons.

The "Guide to America's Top Surgeons"

The Consumer's Research Council of America is an independent research company based in Washington D.C. that evaluates professional services throughout the United States.

The selection process is based on a point value system that awards points for education, years in practice, affiliations with professional associations and board certifications.

No fees, sponsorships, donations or advertising are accepted from physicians to insure an unbiased selection.

How do you compare plastic surgeons?

When comparing plastic surgeons you should review their credentials, experience and how informative they are. After all, you, your surgeon and their staff will be a team for some time to come following surgery.

What do you need to know to compare?

• What your surgeon's credentials (certifications, society memberships, etc.) mean and which ones are important (see above)
• The surgeon should have hospital privileges to perform the procedure you are requesting, even if it will be done in their office facility. You may want to check with the hospital's medical staff office to verify the physician's privileges.
• How many procedures do they perform in a month? A year?
• Review pre-operative and post-operative photographs carefully.