Why Should I Select a Plastic Surgeon Certified Through the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
Plastic surgeons who are certified through the American Board of Plastic Surgery are trained to perform surgery. It may sound obvious, but many people don’t realize that only some of the 24 medical specialties recognized by The American Board of Medical Specialties include surgical training. Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty.
Plastic surgeons are experts in both facial and body procedures. Board-certified plastic surgeons complete a minimum of five years of surgical training following medical school, including a plastic surgery residency program. In-depth training encompasses surgical procedures of the face and the entire body.
Plastic surgeons are trained to prevent and, if necessary, handle emergencies. A comprehensive education, including a sound foundation in anatomy and physiology, provides plastic surgeons with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of all body systems, including ventilation, circulation, fluid and electrolyte balance, all of which are vitally important to patient safety.
Plastic surgeons’ training develops technical skill and aesthetic judgment. Experience gained during years of training in complex reconstructive surgery provides plastic surgeons with outstanding technical skills. Additionally, however, the continuous attention to form as well as function provides these specialists with a finely tuned sense of aesthetics – a unique qualification that is critical to the success of cosmetic surgery where judgments of balance and proportion are called upon.
Plastic surgeons have access to a wide range of potential treatments. Of all the different medical specialists, plastic surgeons have the training to offer their patients the entire scope of cosmetic treatment modalities. Their recommendations are not limited by lack of training or inability to obtain hospital privileges to perform complex procedures when necessary.
What Questions Should I Ask During My Consultation?
What experience does the doctor have in performing this procedure? Ask what training has been completed, especially in new techniques, as well as how often he or she performs the procedure. Ask when the doctor most recently performed this procedure.
What are the possible risks? There are risks with any surgical procedure. Ask your doctor to outline and discuss what they are, how often they occur, and how they will be handled if they do occur. If the doctor does not openly discuss the risks and complications associated with the procedure or says that there are no risks, seek another opinion.
What is the expected recovery for the procedure? Important points to discuss are postoperative restrictions on activity and typical time periods for resuming work and social activities.
How much will the surgery cost? Reconstructive surgery is generally covered by most health insurance policies, although coverage for specific procedures and levels of coverage may vary greatly. Because it is elective, cosmetic surgery is usually not covered by insurance, and payment is required in advance. Costs include the surgeon’s fee and fees for the surgical facility and anesthesia. Other possible costs are the preoperative physical and blood work, medications, surgical garments, and private-duty nursing. While it is tempting to “bargain shop”, the training, certification, and experience of your surgeon are the most important factors in the success of your surgery. Select your surgeon with careful consideration; this is not an area for compromise.
What Is a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand?
Hand Surgery is a specialized field of medicine that includes the investigation, preservation, and restoration by medical, surgical, and rehabilitative means of all structures of the upper extremity directly affecting the form and function of the hand and wrist.
In 1982, the American Boards of Orthopaedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, and Surgery were asked by the American Association for Hand Surgery and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand to consider special recognition of those Diplomates of these Boards who had demonstrated special qualifications in Surgery of the Hand.
The three Boards applied to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) for authorization to offer a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand, which was granted. The ABMS intends the Certification in the Subspecialty of Surgery of the Hand for only those surgeons who, by virtue of additional fellowship training, practice characteristics reflecting a major commitment to Hand Surgery, and through contributions to this field, have demonstrated qualifications in hand surgery that deserve special recognition.
To qualify for Certification in the Subspecialty of Surgery of the Hand, a surgeon must, among numerous other requirements, have been in the active practice of hand surgery for at least two years following the completion of formal training, have as his major professional activity the field of plastic surgery, hold full operating privileges in an accredited hospital and have successfully passed all examinations prescribed by the Joint Committee on Surgery of the Hand of the American Boards of Orthopaedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, and Surgery.
Candidates who enter a fellowship in Surgery of the Hand (as of 1999 or later) must enter and satisfactorily complete a one-year fellowship accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Hand surgery fellowship and plastic surgery residency requirements must be fulfilled, with submission of a list of at least 125 Surgery of the Hand cases, fulfilling at least six of the nine following categories, managed during a consecutive twelve-month period. (Bone and Joint, Nerve, Tendon and Muscle, Skin and Wound Problems, Contracture and Joint Stiffness, Tumor, Congenital, Microsurgery Vascular, and Non-operative)
Plastic & Hand Surgery Associates are proud of the fact that multiple surgeons in our practice have been awarded Certificates of Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand through either the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery or the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
What Are the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons?
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the preeminent provider of musculoskeletal education and practice management services for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals. The Academy also serves as an advocate for improved patient care and informs the public about the science of orthopaedics.
Members of the Academy, called fellows, are orthopaedists concerned with the diagnosis, care, and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. The orthopaedist’s scope of practice includes disorders of the body’s bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.
AAOS Fellows have met the following criteria:
- Graduation from an accredited medical school
- At least five years of an approved residency in orthopaedics
- Pass comprehensive oral and written exams
- Certification by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
- Submit to stringent membership review processes prior to admittance to the Academy
- Founded at Northwestern University as a not-for-profit organization in 1933, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has grown to the world’s largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists, now serving about 24,000 members internationally.
- The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, founded by the
- Academy Board of Directors in 1997, engages in health policy and advocacy activities on behalf of musculoskeletal patients and the profession of orthopaedic surgery.
Dr. Aubrey Lucas of Plastic & Hand Surgery Associates is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He holds a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand (through the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery) as do several of the practice’s certified plastic surgeons (through the American Board of Plastic Surgery).
For more information on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, contact www.aaos.org.
What Are the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is a national medical specialty society comprised of 97% of all physicians certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). In order to maintain active membership in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, members must adhere to rigid guidelines, be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and have met the following criteria:
- Graduation from an accredited medical school
- Five years of a surgical training residency (usually three years of general surgery followed by two years of plastic surgery)
- Two years of post-residency practice
- Pass comprehensive oral and written exams
- Only the American Board of Plastic Surgery is recognized by the American
- Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to certify doctors in the specialty of plastic surgery Unlike other physicians, ASPS members are qualified to perform cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures, including everything from liposuction to intricate reconstructive microsurgery.
All of the plastic and cosmetic surgeons at Plastic & Hand Surgery Associates and The Face & Body Center are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and are members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. If you are considering cosmetic or reconstructive surgery, you should understand why board certification through the American Board of Plastic Surgery is considered a mark of distinction and the height of professionalism.
What Is the American College of Surgeons?
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons, 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 indicate that the surgeon’s education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence, and ethical conduct have passed a rigorous evaluation, and been found consistent with the high standards established and demanded by the College.
There is another category of membership known as “Associate Fellow,” established to provide an opportunity for surgeons who are beginning surgical practice and who meet specific requirements to assume an active role in the College at an early stage in their careers.
The College currently has more than 64,000 Fellows, including more than 3,700 Fellows in other countries, making it the largest organization of surgeons in the world. There are presently more than 5,000 Associate Fellows.
For more information on the American College of Surgeons, contact www.facs.org.
What is the American Board of Surgery?
The American Board of Surgery was founded in 1937 for the purpose of certifying those found to be qualified after meeting specific requirements and completing an examination process. A major reason for establishing the specialty board was to identify the surgeon who has met a certain standard of excellence.
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.
For more information on the American Board of Surgery, contact www.absurgery.org.