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State/Provincial Licensure
You can verify that your plastic surgeon is licensed to practice medicine and review any disciplinary actions by contacting the state or provincial medical board, or by using its Website. These boards exist to protect health care consumers by licensing and regulating physicians and other health care professionals. Each state and province has laws that govern the practice of medicine and the regulatory responsibilities of its medical board. The licensing process ensures that all practicing physicians are properly educated and trained, and abide by standards of professional conduct. Medical boards also evaluate complaints and other reports and take disciplinary measures as necessary.
Board CertificationAmerican Board of Plastic Surgery The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is one of 24 specialty boards that comprise the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). A physician who is "board-certified" can be certified by any of these 24 boards that represent medical specialties. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the plastic surgeon who performs your breast augmentation surgery is board-certified in plastic surgery (by the ABPS). Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon assures you that your doctor has completed extensive training and passed rigorous examinations. Physicians must meet several requirements to be board-certified by the ABPS:
You can verify that your plastic surgeon is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery on the ABMS website at www.abms.org/WC/login.aspx or by calling 1-866-ASK-ABMS (1-866-275-2267). Visitors to the website must register (for free) before using the service. The search listings will tell you which specialty board certifies your doctor. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Plastic surgeons in Canada are certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). The RCPSC is a national organization that is responsible for setting and maintaining standards for postgraduate medical education, certifying specialist physicians and surgeons, and promoting continuing education. You can verify that your plastic surgeon is certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada on the RCPSC website at www.royalcollege.ca/index_e.php.
Professional OrganizationsThe American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the world. All ASPS physician members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). The membership of the ASPS includes 97% of plastic surgeons in the United States who are certified by the ABPS. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is the leading professional organization of plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) who specialize in cosmetic plastic surgery. The ASAPS has 2,100 members worldwide. The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons (CSPS) is a professional organization for plastic surgeons who have passed the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) examinations and are certified to practice. The Canadian Society for Aesthetic Cosmetic Plastic Surgery (CSAPS) is dedicated to improved cosmetic surgery outcomes through education, research and the maintenance of high surgical standards of clinical practice.
Medical School AccreditationYou can verify that your plastic surgeon's medical school is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) by visiting www.lcme.org/directry.htm. The LCME is the only organization which determines the accreditation status of programs leading to the M.D. degree and does so in the United States and Canada. Programs must meet national standards to be accredited.
Anesthesiologist CertificationIf you have general anesthesia, you can make sure that your anesthesiologist is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) by searching the ABA Diplomate and Candidate Directory or by calling (919) 881-2570. The ABA examines and certifies physicians who complete an accredited program of anesthesiology training in the United States and voluntarily apply for certification or maintenance of certification. If your doctor uses a nurse anesthetist, you can make sure they are certified by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) by calling (847) 692-7082. The AANA represents more than 30,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) nationwide.
Operating Suite AccreditationMost breast augmentations are performed at outpatient surgery facilities as opposed to hospitals. Outpatient facilities may be accredited by national or state agencies, licensed by the state or certified by Medicare. National accrediting agencies for outpatient facilities include:
Hospital PrivilegesFinding out if your plastic surgeon has privileges to operate in an accredited hospital can provide some insight. Doctors with operating privileges have been found competent by the hospital review committee following evaluation for specific procedures.
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Locate a plastic surgeon in your area:
Transumbilical Breast Augmentation, Scarless Technique — Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
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We have compiled the
information in this section as a guide to verifying the credentials of plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists and operating suites. Links to the online
search tools of the organizations that govern licensing, certification and accreditation make it easy to find what you're looking for.
