“Board-certified” gets used as shorthand for qualified, but the term covers a lot more ground than most patients realize—and not all boards, or all paths to certification, are created equal. A surgeon can legitimately call themselves board-certified while holding a certification in a specialty that has nothing to do with plastic surgery, and the title “plastic surgeon” alone doesn’t tell you what training they’ve completed.
Here, New York plastic surgeon Mark G. Albert, MD, breaks down what certification actually verifies, which boards patients should be looking for and how to independently confirm a surgeon’s credentials before booking a consultation.
What does it actually mean for a surgeon to be ‘board-certified,’ and which board should patients specifically be looking for?
“‘Board-certified’ means a physician has completed specified training requirements and passed examinations administered by a medical specialty board.
Many surgeons tout that they are double or triple board-certified, but that does not necessarily mean that they are better qualified than another surgeon. For example, someone could complete an integrated plastic surgery residency (traditionally the most competitive and direct path to plastic surgery) rather than completing a general surgery residency or an ear, nose and throat (ENT) residency followed by a plastic surgery fellowship. The former situation would produce a single board-certified surgeon and the latter would produce a double board-certified surgeon. Just because someone took the longer path, it does not necessarily mean it’s the better path, and any marketing to the contrary can be deceptive.
If you’re considering plastic surgery in the United States, look for certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). ABPS certification indicates that the surgeon completed formal plastic surgery training and met the board’s rigorous requirements.”
What’s the difference between a surgeon who is board-certified in plastic surgery versus certifications in adjacent or unrelated specialties that get marketed similarly?
“This creates a lot of confusion among patients and consumers. A physician can legitimately say they’re ‘board-certified,’ but their certification may be in a specialty other than plastic surgery. There are doctors who complete training and board certification in specialties like pediatrics and decide to perform aesthetic surgery procedures and market themselves as ‘board-certified.’
Doctors whose residency or fellowship training is outside of plastic surgery will also often seek board certification by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, which is different from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. So, rather than relying on phrases such as ‘board-certified,’ patients should research the actual certifying board and the physician’s underlying residency or fellowship training.”
Where can patients independently verify a surgeon’s board certification before booking a consultation?
“Patients should always check three resources to learn about a doctor’s training:
1. The American Board of Medical Specialties
2. The American Board of Plastic Surgery
3. The Aesthetic Society’s Find a Surgeon tool, which locates ABPS-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons in your area. The Society verifies and maintains current ABPS certification status for all members.
Also, the term ‘plastic surgeon’ is often used by doctors who didn’t complete plastic surgery training, and patients need to be careful. Patients should verify that their surgeon actually completed accredited plastic surgery training and understand exactly what board is certifying them. If someone is presenting themselves as a plastic surgeon, patients have every right to know whether they actually trained in plastic surgery.”
Beyond certification, what should someone look for when researching a surgeon, such as hospital privileges, before-and-afters or revision rates?
“There are many exceptional aesthetic surgeons from different training backgrounds, and no single path determines the quality of a surgeon. What matters most is that patients deserve to understand exactly who they are entrusting with their care.
Patients should seek out surgeons who show long-term results in their before-and-after photos, as it can take many months or even years to arrive at final results (immediate before-and-after photos can often be misleading).
Also consider whether the lighting is consistent in photos. Does this surgeon tailor procedures to each patient or do they perform a similar procedure for everyone? Do patients look natural or overdone to you? Also, look at a surgeon’s experience with the specific procedure you’re considering. I think it’s best to go to someone who does your specific procedure on a very regular basis.”
What questions should a patient ask during the consultation itself to gauge whether a surgeon is truly qualified for the specific procedure they want?
- “What was your residency and/or fellowship training in?
- If you’re board-certified, which board certified you?
- How often do you perform this particular procedure?
- Can I see before-and-after photos of patients similar to me?
- Where will my surgery be performed, and is the facility accredited?
- Do you have hospital privileges for this procedure?
- Who administers the anesthesia, and what are their qualifications?
- What are the most common complications with this operation, and what could I expect if that happens?
- How often do your patients require revision surgery, and what is your policy if I need one?
- Who will actually perform each part of my operation?
- What does recovery and postoperative care look like, and who can I reach if there’s a problem after hours?”
