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Choosing
A Great Surgeon
Board
Certification & What It Means To You
Board Eligible: What Does It Mean?
Professional
Aesthetic Medicine Societies
State
Medical Licensure
Continued
Medical Education (CME)
How to Find A Good Surgeon
Researching Your Surgeon
Communication is Key
Where to Get Referrals For Qualified Surgeons
Related Links
Choosing
A Great Surgeon
Finding the right surgeon to perform your procedure is probably the most
important factor of having plastic surgery. After all, it is the surgeon
who does the work and is capable of helping you achieve your
goals. Without the surgeon, there would be no surgery.
However, selecting a skilled plastic surgeon to perform your
procedure can be absolutely nerve-racking. There seems to be an endless
sea of available surgeons all proclaiming their expertise. It can be so
frustrating sometimes. Many say go to only a "Board Certified
Plastic Surgeon", while this is important, it is not the end all, be
all of plastic surgery. I just want to make it clear that just
being certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) or the Royal
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada does not
guarantee a positive result. I am trying to change the mentality
that by just looking for that ABPS or RCPSC certification you are home-free
--
because you aren't. Many factors go into choosing a surgeon.
All of which must be considered before choosing.
I want to add that I
personally know several surgeons who are not certified by the ABPS or
RCPSC that I'd definitely recommend. I also know surgeons who are
certified by American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgery (ABFPRS) who are absolutely stellar! Although there are many
prestigious surgeons who are, of course, certified by the ABPS or RCPSC, they became exemplary
in the O.R. because of their talent and artistic eye, not their certification.
The ends justifies the means so check around and ask for surgeon
recommendations and view photos of their work from independent journals by
real patients on the web. Speak to them at length if you must. The important
thing is to find a ethical and qualified surgeon to do the job and to have
good communication with this surgeon. Even if you have the greatest
surgeon in the world and you have the best healing experience ever -- if
you and (s)he were not on the same page about what you wanted, all is
lost.
Board Certification &
What It Means
Oftentimes, when you hear "board
certified" in this field, it means being
certified by the American Board of
Plastic Surgery (ABPS) or the Royal College
of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).
There are other boards which you may hear about in the aesthetic medicine
community such as the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board
of Otolaryngology. The ABPS, ABDerm and the ABOto are all
recognized by the The American
Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
"The American
Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is an organization of 24 approved medical
specialty boards. The ABMS serves to coordinate the activities of its Member
Boards and to provide information to the public, the government, the profession
and its members concerning issues involving specialization and certification of
medical specialists." source: American Board of Medical Specialties
Board certification assures that a
surgeon has completed his or her residency, is trained in their medical specialty,
has practiced their medical specialty for the minimum amount of years, and
has taken oral and
written exams issued by the respective board.
However, there are doctors who advertise 'board certified' on
their website but do not say in what. Some may be misleading
and may very well have a certification in pathology, and not plastic
surgery or dermatology. Get to know what to look for,
what credentials your surgeon has and verify them.
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The
American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)
"By choosing a plastic surgeon
who is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc., you can
be assured that the doctor has:
-
graduated from an
accredited medical school
-
has completed at least
five years of additional training as a resident surgeon.
-
This includes a minimum
three-year residency in an accredited general surgery
program
-
and a minimum two-year
residency in plastic surgery.
-
To become certified, the
doctor then must successfully complete comprehensive written
and oral exams.
-
Board Certification is a
voluntary process.
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It {the ABPS] is the only ABMS Board which certifies in
the full spectrum of the entire specialty of plastic surgery."
"Starting January 2002, all certifications will be
valid for a period of 10 years. Requirements for recertification
include:
-
A valid primary certificate from The American Board of
Plastic Surgery, Inc
-
Completion of the Board’s Application for
Recertification and required fees.
-
A valid, registered, full and unrestricted license to
practice medicine in every state, territory, or possession of the
United States or by a Canadian province, or location in which the
Diplomate currently is licensed to practice.
-
Verification of professionalism by the completion of
an evaluation form of the Diplomate’s character and satisfactory
performance from the Chief of Surgery or Chief of Staff at the
hospitals where the Diplomate practices.
-
Evidence of current valid hospital appointments.
-
Evidence of accreditation of non-hospital surgical
facilities at which the diplomate operates
-
Diplomates must provide evidence of successful
completion of at least 150 hours of CME programs during the three
years preceding the Application for Recertification.
-
electronically submit a surgical case list covering a
six-month period.
-
Diplomates must also successfully complete a
practice-oriented multiple-choice computer based examination."
The ABPS does not recognize the term, "board
eligible." For more information please see the ABPS
Recertification Information Page.
Headquarters:
The American Board of Plastic Surgery
Seven Penn Center, Suite 400
1635 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2204
(215) 587-9322
FAX (215) 587-9622
Website: http://www.abplsurg.org
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The
American Board of Otolaryngology (ABOto)
"Training
programs in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery in the United
States are evaluated by the Residency Review Committee for Otolaryngology
(RRC), which consists of representatives from the American Medical
Association (AMA), the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the
ABOto, and are accredited by the Accreditation Council for
Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Information concerning
approved educational programs can be found in the Graduate Medical
Education Directory published by the American Medical Association. |
Individuals who entered otolaryngology-head
and neck surgery training July 1, 2000 or thereafter must satisfactorily completes
a minimum of five years of training, as specified below, in an ACGME-approved
program(s):
- At least ONE YEAR of
general surgical training, It is preferred that the general
surgical residency be taken prior to otolaryngologic training, but it
may not be taken after otolaryngologic training.
- At least FOUR YEARS of
residency training in otolaryngology-head and neck
surgery. This training must involve increasing responsibility
each year and must include a final year of senior experience.
This final year must be spent within the accredited program in which
the previous year of training was spent, unless prior approval; is
obtained from the ABOto.
All residency training must
be completed in a manner acceptable to the director of that residency
training program.
The ABOto does not recognize the term, "board
eligible." The ABOto only recognizes if a surgeon is certified
or not, there is no in-between. However, the ABOto will acknowledge
if a surgeon is in the process of getting certified." source:
The American Board of Otolaryngology Booklet of Information
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) recognizes the ABOto
certification.
Headquarters:
The American Board of Otolaryngology
3050 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1700
Houston, Texas 77056
Voice: 713-850-0399
Fax: 713-850-1104
Website: http://www.aboto.org/
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The
American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS)
There are subspecialties in plastic surgery as well.
Otorhinolaryngologists (or simply otolaryngologists, ENTs) with facial
plastic surgery training are often thought of the equivalent of board
certified surgeons but for surgery of the face and neck only.
American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) is the organization
which tests and demands the same criteria of these surgeons as the ABPS
but for the face and neck only. |
To be certified by the
American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS), a surgeons must:
- "Have completed a residency program approved by the
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the Royal
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in one of the two medical
specialties containing identifiable training in facial plastic and
reconstructive surgery: otolaryngology/head-and-neck surgery or
plastic surgery.
- Have earned prior certification by the American Board of
Otolaryngology, the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in
otolaryngology/head-and-neck surgery or plastic surgery.
- Have been in practice a minimum of two years.
- Have 100 operative reports accepted by a peer-review committee.
- Successfully pass an 8-hour written and oral examination.
- Hold the appropriate licensure and adhere to the ABFPRS Code of
Ethics." source: http://www.abfprs.org
*The American Board of Medical Specialties
(ABMS) does not recognize the ABFPRS certification.
"The ABOto is authorized to issue
subspecialty certificates in Pediatric Otolaryngology, Otology/Neurotology
and Plastic Surgery within the Head and Neck. Exams are currently being
developed in all areas. No certificates have been issued, and specific
dates for administration of these exams are not known at this time." source:
http://www.abfprs.org
Headquarters:
ABFPRS
115C South St. Asaph Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Tel: (703) 549-3223
Fax: (703) 549-3357
E-mail: tshill@abfprs.org
Website: http://www.abfprs.org
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The
American Board of Surgery (ABS)
The ABS is an independent, non-profit organization with worldwide
recognition. It is one of the twenty-four certifying boards that are
members of the American Board of Medical Specialties. To be
certified by the ABS a physician must have:
- Graduated from an accredited
medical school.
- Completed of a surgical residency
in an accredited program in the United States or Canada of at
least five years duration after medical school.
-
Passed an extensive day-long written examination.
-
Passed a separate oral examination given by three teams of
highly-qualified surgeons to assess the candidate's ability to handle all
kinds of surgical problems.
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Certification lasts 10 years, after which he or she must pass testing
and meet criteria to recertify. Beginning January 2002, all Diplomates must have accumulated 100 hours
of CME during the two-year period prior to their application for recertification.
Source: http://www.absurgery.org/
Headquarters:
American Board of Surgery, Inc.
1617 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 860
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1847
Phone: (215) 568-4000
FAX: (215) 563-5718
Website: http://www.absurgery.org/
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The
American Board of Dermatology (ABDerm)
To be certified by the
American Board of Dermatology (ABDerm), a physician must:
-
graduate from an accredited medical
school
- enter
a residency training program approved by the Accreditation
Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), depending upon
the specialty, these programs require from 3 to 7 years of
training after the completion of medical school.
- enter private practice for the minimum
amount of time
- submit his/her
credentials to the appropriate ABMS board from which they
desire certification.
- successfully
pass rigorous examination(s)
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The American Board of Medical Specialties
(ABMS) recognizes the ABDerm certification. Headquarters:
American Board of Dermatology
Henry Ford Health System
1 Ford Place
Detroit, Michigan 48202-3450
Telephone: (313) 874-1088
FAX: (313) 872-3221
Email: abderm@hfhs.org
Website: http://www.abderm.org/
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Board
Eligible: What Does It Mean?
Becoming certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) may take
years to complete. Until then the ABPS does not recognize the term,
"board eligible." The ABOto also does not recognize this
term however, they will acknowledge that a surgeon is presently taking steps to
achieve board certification. Some surgeons may use this term to imply that
they do meet the criteria to be eligible for examination and possible
certification by a particular board, but have chosen not to take the exam and
become certified for some reason or another.
If a surgeon does state that he is board eligible,
ask for which board and proceed to ask details regarding the criteria pertaining
to that particular board. For instance ask which undergraduate school they
went to and what their major was, ask which accredited Medical School they
attended and graduated from. Ask about their residency, their CME --
inquire about all the criteria which must be met to even be eligible
to be considered for examination. Although the board still does not
recognize the term, and you may say so, you will know if the surgeon has had the
medical training and has continued his medical education over the years.
Professional
Aesthetic Medicine Societies
These societies are not
required by a surgeon to practice plastic surgery, nor do they mean that a surgeon is
is artistic or has a good reputation. Being a member of either of the
societies listed below assures that the member meets their criteria for
enrollment. They are thought of as prestigious and impressive, but not
necessary.
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The
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
"The American Society of
Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) comprises 97% of all physicians certified by the
American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). In order to be a member of
ASPS, plastic surgeons must be certified by the ABPS (in Canada by the
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and/or the
Corporation Professionelle des Medicins du Quebec). ABPS certified
surgeons have met the following criteria: |
- Be
certified by the American Board of Plastic
Surgery or, in Canada, by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
of Canada
- Graduation from an accredited medical school
- Five years of residency (usually three years
of general surgery followed by two years of plastic surgery residency)
- Two years of post-residency practice
- Pass comprehensive oral and written exams
- complete a total of 150 CME
credit hours within every 2-year period to remain a member of the ASPS
Unlike other physicians, ASPS members are certified
to perform cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures --
everything from liposuction to intricate reconstructive microsurgery. And
remember: just because a surgeon says he or she is board-certified, does not
mean they are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Look for the
American Society of Plastic Surgeons logo when choosing a plastic surgeon."
source: http://plasticsurgery.org/
Headquarters:
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation
444 E
Algonquin Rd
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
1-888-4-PLASTIC (1-888-475-2784)
Website: http://www.plasticsurgery.org
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The
American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)
This is an organization, which only accepts cosmetic plastic surgeons certified by either
the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) or the Royal
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). The ASAPS is
not a board, rather a society, which requires that their members uphold
a strict and thorough professional code of conduct and possess the
extensive training and required certifications. In order to be a
member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), surgeons must: |
-
"Be
certified by the American Board of Plastic
Surgery or, in Canada, 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; and
-
Adhere
to current ethical standards for professional conduct as outlined in
the Code of Ethics observed by all ASAPS-member surgeons."
source: http://surgery.org
Headquarters:
American Society fof Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
36 West 44th Street, Suite 630
New York, New York 10036
Tel. 212-921-0500
Fax 212-921-0011
Website: http://surgery.org
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American
College of Surgeons (ACS/FACS)
"The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational
association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to improve the quality
of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical
education and practice.
Members of the American College of
Surgeons are referred to as "Fellows." The letters FACS
(Fellow, American College of Surgeons) after a surgeon's name mean that
the surgeon's education and training, professional qualifications,
surgical competence, and ethical conduct have passed a rigorous
evaluation, and have been found to be consistent with the high standards
established and demanded by the College. |
Applicants for Fellowship in the American College
of Surgeons are required to have the following qualifications:
- Graduation from a medical school acceptable to
the American College of Surgeons.
- Certification by an American Surgical
Specialty Board which is a member of the American Board of Medical
Specialties and which is appropriate to the applicant's specialty practice,
or an appropriate specialty certification by the Royal College of Physicians
and Surgeons of Canada.
- A full and unrestricted license to practice
medicine in their respective state or province.
- One year of surgical practice after completion
of all formal training. Additional practice time may be required if the
practice situation and/or geographic location changes. Exceptions may be
granted by the Member Services Liaison Committee.
- A current appointment on the surgical staff of
the applicant's primary hospital with no reportable action pending
which could adversely affect staff privileges at that or any other health
care facility.
- A current practice that establishes the
applicant as a specialist in surgery. The degree to which a practice must be
restricted to the specialty is to be determined by a responsible College
Credentials Committee. The limitation of an applicant's practice to the
scope of the designated specialty is an important consideration.
- Interest in pursuing professional excellence
both as an individual surgeon and a member of the surgical community. Such
interest may be evidenced by membership in local, regional, and national
surgical specialty societies; participation in teaching programs and on
hospital committees; continuing medical education through attendance at
professional meetings, courses, and seminars.
- Ethical fitness as well as professional
proficiency as determined by an appropriate College Credentials Committee.
This determination is based upon information obtained from Fellows who were
consulted as references and from other sources. source:
http://www.facs.org
Headquarters:
American College of Surgeons
633 N. Saint St.
Chicago, Illinois 60611-3211
Telephone: (312) 202-5000
Fax (312) 202-5001
Email: postmaster@facs.org
Website: http://www.facs.org
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State
Medical Licensure
State licensure is very important. Your
surgeon must hold a valid medical license for the state in which he performs
your procedure. These licenses may be a Medical Doctor (M.D.) which is an
allopathic physician or a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.). which is an osteopathic
physician. Most plastic surgeons are medical doctors, but sometimes you
may find one that is an Osteopathic doctor.
There are many similarities in being an M.D. or a D.O.:
-
"Applicants to both D.O. and M.D. colleges typically
have a four-year undergraduate degree with an emphasis on scientific
courses.
-
Both D.O.s and M.D.s complete four years of basic medical
education.
-
After medical school, both D.O.s and M.D.s can choose to
practice in a specialty area of medicine -- such as psychiatry, surgery or
obstetrics -- after completing a residency program which requires an
additional two to six years of training.
-
Both D.O.s and M.D.s must pass comparable state licensing examinations.
- D.O.s and M.D.s both practice in fully accredited and licensed health care
facilities.
- D.O.s comprise a separate, yet equal branch of American medical care.
Together, D.O.s and M.D.s enhance the state of care available in America."
- However, "D.O.s receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system
-- your body’s interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones that
make up two-thirds of its body mass." source: http://www.aoa-net.org/
Osteopathic physicians usually become
primary care physicians, however some may choose to be dermatologists or
plastic surgeons. D.O's are taught to focus on preventive health care
and treat the body as a whole. The American Osteopathic Association has
special requirements to achieve certification for specialty boards, such as
Dermatology, Surgery and Anesthesiology. Please see http://www.aoa-net.org/Certification/certification.htm
for more information. To read more on a comparison of certification
boards, please see the American
Association of Physician Specialists (AAPS).
A Physician's Assistant (P.A.) or a
Registered Nurse (R.N.) may apply peels, give injections such as collagen and
Botox while under a physician's supervision.
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Continued
Medical Education (CME)
Many states require that a physician seek a minimum amount of hours before
allowing a physician to renew their license. Check with your individual state's
medical board for more information. Professional Societies
also require CME to maintain their membership. The American Board of
Plastic Surgery requires at least 150 hours of CME during the three
years preceding the recertification application to be considered
for recertification. Even professional societies like the ASPS and the
ASAPS require CME to maintain their memberships. Please see the relevant sections for more information.
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How
to Find A Good Surgeon
Patient-to-patient referral is by far the best
way to find an excellent surgeon. Although, beware as some of these
individuals may work for the
surgeons and even go as far as pretending to be a patient -- or they could in
fact be a patient, but also work. If you tend to hear the same name
repeatedly you may think that perhaps they are the best to go to -- and that may
very well be so. But, you cannot count on this factor as the the media has
a powerful edge. You should pay attention to the public message boards on the
Internet as well as speak with real patients every chance you get. The voices of
both satisfied and the unsatisfied patients are very loud.
Also, the
mentality that
just seeing a symbol or two on a surgeon's affiliations or memberships section
doesn't mean that he is THE man (or woman for that matter) for you.
These certifications and associations do not guarantee
that the surgeon has an artistic eye nor does it imply that
you will receive what you are seeking. Please use all of the information on this
page, the next few sections and other websites to better determine what you
may need, what you are looking
for and just who is right for you -- period. If that surgeon turns out to be ABPS
certified -- wonderful! If he or she has a membership in the ASPS or ASAPS,
fantastic! If he or she does not, so be it as well.
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Communication
is Key
Note: For simplicity's sake, whenever the word
"he" is used in this document, this may mean either a male or female
surgeon. Communication is a necessary key to having a
good doctor-patient relationship. If you cannot communicate, he or she
may not know
what it is that you want or what your expectations are. Be sure that
he is open to your
desires and wishes as well as what he may believe is realistic. This is your body but
your surgeon is the one who will be operating.
Also, please realize that
you cannot expect
to bring in a photo of another's breasts or nose and say, "make me look like
this." There are definitely results that can be obtained but as a
general rule, a surgeon can really only improve what you already
have. If you want more fullness you will need augmentation. However, you should
bring photos of what you like and don't like to help convey what your
desires are. You shouldn't expect miracles but you should expect
improvement. And you should definitely expect proper care, treatment and
empathy. Remember that you are the paying client -- you essentially interview the surgeons for a
job although this is
more important as this is your health and well being.
Communication is a
very important aspect of surgery. Please don't be afraid to speak up.
Besides they do need your input. Go into a surgeon's office with an idea of
what it is you want. Explain these desires to the surgeon then
listen what he has to say about what he thinks he can achieve
realistically.
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Where to Get Referrals For Qualified Surgeons
Public
Message Boards and Support Forums
Visit our own public Plastic Surgery
& Aesthetic Improvement Support Forums and ask for referrals for a doc in your
area. You may get several patients who may post back to you regarding
their surgeons -- be it good or bad. Some patients would rather
email information so you should create an email address you wouldn't mind
posting publicly. www.hotmail.com
is a good web-based email service to use for this matter.
Ask Within the Medical
Field
Ask around everywhere.
Ask your general practitioner, if you have one, ask your gynecologist, your nurse or
doctor friends, online -- everywhere. They have ears and know where you should
and should not go if Cosmetic Plastic Surgery is your choice. Even
ask around your gym or salon, people talk to their hair stylists about
everything and many gush abut their surgeons.
Books & Directories
There are two reference books
circulated by the American Board of Medical Specialties, these books are available in most public libraries dedicated to providing information and names
of plastic surgeons who are certified by boards recognized by the ABMS
only. They are listed by city and state...
- Directory of Board
Certified Medical Specialists,
published by Marquis' Who's Who; a four-volume compilation of physicians by
specialty from the American Board of Medical Specialties. Most recent is the
29th edition, 1997. Alternatively, call the ABMS toll-free number, 1-800-
776-2378.
- The Compendium of Certified
Medical Specialists,
published by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
Magazines
and Television: Be Careful
Appearing in the media does
not mean that a surgeon is a great one. There have been many surgeons
that I, personally, cannot recommend who have appeared in documentaries, television shows,
infomercials, beauty magazines, "Best Surgeons of the Year"
magazines and other publications. Use them for information, but do not
take it for gospel.
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Furthermore...
If you can think of any other questions or
additional information you desire to know, don't hesitate to ask or express your
concerns.
After you select a few surgeons the next
important step is Researching Plastic
Surgeons. Be sure to visit the
research section for important tips and resources on getting the scoop on these
possibles before you schedule consultations. This saves both money and
time -- not to mention it can save your life.
Related
Links
The American Board of
Plastic Surgery
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
American Society
of Plastic Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
(often seen as FACS)
AMA -
American Medical Association Home Page
ABMS Certified Doctor Home Page
The American Academy Of Cosmetic
Surgeons
Asociacion
Mexicana de Chirurgia Plastica, Esthetica y Reconstructiva
Australian Society of Plastic
Surgeons
Buenos Aires Society of Plastic
Surgery
Canadian Society of Plastic
Surgeons
French Society of
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
International Society of Aesthetic
Plastic Surgery
Netherlands Society for
Plastic Surgery (NVPC)
Spanish Society for Plastic,
Reconstructive and Esthetic Surgery
Swiss Society of Plastic
Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
Turkish Society of Plastic
Surgeons
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