Plastic surgery includes procedures that modify or restore areas of the face and body through surgical techniques. When evaluating a plastic surgeon, patients can inquire about the surgeon’s credentials and formal training to assess their qualifications. Board certification reflects the surgeon’s participation in a voluntary process that indicates education, testing, and ongoing professional activity within a medical specialty. Here is more information about board certification and how it may apply in the specialty of plastic surgery:
What Is a Board Certification?
Like other medical specialties, a board certification for a plastic surgeon is issued by an independent medical organization that sets standards for physician training and evaluation. Certifying boards define eligibility criteria, administer examinations, and establish ongoing requirements that physicians must meet to maintain certification. Multiple certifying boards exist in medicine, and more than one board may offer certification within the same specialty area.
To obtain board certification, a physician must complete medical school and an accredited residency program in a defined specialty. For a plastic surgeon, this pathway includes extensive surgical training that covers anatomy and operative techniques. After residency, candidates must pass comprehensive examinations as part of the board certification process. These examinations confirm that a physician has met the certifying board’s requirements.
Board certification is one way to identify standardized training benchmarks, though it does not guarantee any specific outcomes. Certification is optional; physicians are not legally required to hold it to practice medicine. Patients can verify a surgeon’s certification status by searching the official website of the relevant certifying board.
What Is a Plastic Surgeon?
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty that focuses on surgical modification, reconstruction, or restoration of physical structures and features. The field includes cosmetic procedures as well as reconstructive techniques used to address injury or congenital differences. The effects of disease can also be a cause for plastic surgery procedures, which may involve the face, breasts, abdomen, extremities, or other areas of the body.
Plastic surgery education takes place in supervised clinical settings where residents participate in patient care and surgical procedures. Residents can gain experience across a range of plastic surgery procedures during training. Board certification verifies that the surgeon’s education met the certifying board’s standards, and for surgeons certified by the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery, for example, certification also means they operate only in licensed facilities.
What Do Plastic Surgeons Do?
Plastic surgeons first evaluate patients to determine whether a surgical procedure aligns with anatomical factors and procedural goals. Consultations include reviewing medical history, examining physical features, and discussing surgical options based on the doctor’s findings. Planning focuses on selecting appropriate techniques for the area being treated and the scope of the procedure, and surgeons may also outline general expectations for recovery and follow-up care as part of the surgical process.
Here are some common procedures a surgeon may offer:
- Abdominoplasty: also known as a tummy tuck. Removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightens underlying muscles.
- Breast augmentation: changes breast volume or shape.
- Facelift: lifts and repositions facial and neck skin and underlying tissues.
- Liposuction: targets and removes specific fat deposits.
- Rhinoplasty: modifies the outward shape or internal anatomy of the nose.
Plastic surgeons also manage care beyond the operating room, and postoperative monitoring helps track healing and address potential concerns. Surgeons can provide guidance related to activity restrictions and follow-up appointments.
Find a Board-certified Surgeon
Board certification can provide insight into a plastic surgeon’s training and professional history. Surgeons complete specialized education and may apply their skills across a wide range of procedures, and confirming their certification status helps clarify how a surgeon meets recognized specialty standards for their field. For more information on quality plastic surgery care, consult a certified plastic surgeon near you.
