Plastic Surgeons - Board Certification

Once you have found a plastic surgeon who you are comfortable with you should make sure that that person is board certified. Board certification will ensure you that you are dealing with a qualified professional who is backed by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Board certified surgeons are known for their comprehensive abilities and their unsurpassed attention to patient care. These surgeons have undergone a rigorous testing process and have met the many qualifications that are necessary to become board certified.

Board certified surgeons are required to have graduated from an accredited medical school and they are also required to have completed at least five years of residency. Typically these people will have done three years of residency in general surgery and then two years of plastic surgery residency to hone their skills. After they have met these criteria surgeons must pass a set of oral and written exams and they must practice plastic surgery for at least two years before they are able to become board certified.

You should make absolutely sure that when a plastic surgeon tells you that they are "board certified" that they are actually referring to the fact that they have been certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, not some other organization. This is because the American Board of Plastic Surgery the only board that is approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties, a national agency that is set up to regulate, establish standards and govern various medical fields.

The American Board of Plastic Surgery was set up to regulate the quality of education that surgeons must have before they can be trusted with patients and, as such, the board has a commitment to protecting patients from people who are not qualified enough to offer them service.

Choosing a highly qualified surgeon that is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery will allow you to take comfort in the fact that your surgeon has the experience and the credentials to offer you the best service and patient care available.