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Finding the Right Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon for your Tummy Tuck

  Board Certification and What It Means When Choosing a Plastic Surgeon
You have probably heard that you should choose only a board-certified plastic surgeon. This is very true, but it can still be confusing as there are several boards that offer certification. Many doctors advertise themselves as being 'board-certified' but do not say in what. Some of these doctors may very well have a certification in pathology or urology, but that is hardly beneficial in cosmetic plastic surgery.  Get to know what credentials to look for and how to verify them.

You must also understand that while board certification can be important, it is not the be all and end all of cosmetic plastic surgery.  An artistic eye, good communication skills, and surgical expertise are equally important for a satisfactory outcome. 

Board certification is a voluntary process. No doctor has to be board certified, but it is good sign if he or she is.

You may occasionally see the phrase "board eligible". This means that a physician or surgeon is eligible to be certified, but is not certified yet. He or she may have started the certification process, but has not completed it. Most boards require that a candidate be in practice for several years before even applying. But since most physicians in the United States are eligible to be certified by some board or another, the phrase is sort of meaningless. Similarly, the phrases "board qualified" and "board admissible" are also all but meaningless.

A board-certified physician or surgeon is also referred to as a diplomate of that medical specialty board. You might see the word "diplomate" on the framed certificates on your surgeon's office walls.

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is an umbrella organization of 24 medical specialty boards. The ABMS coordinates the activities of its member boards and provides information to the public, the government, the medical profession, and its members about medical specialties and certification of medical specialists.

Each member board sets its own standards for certification. The following boards are the member boards of the ABMS:

Surgeons who perform tummy tuck surgery or abdominoplasty most often will have certifications in either plastic surgery or surgery.

The ABMS website is at http://www.abms.org.

The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)
Usually, when you hear the term, "board-certified plastic surgeon", it means being certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), or for a Canadian surgeon, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).  Doctors of osteopathy (they have DO after their name rather than MD) can be certified in plastic surgery through their Osteopathic Board and also through the ABPS. Board certification in plastic surgery by the ABPS assures that a surgeon has completed a residency, is trained in plastic surgery, has practiced plastic surgery for a minimum number of years, and has passed oral and written exams conducted by the board. 

A plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery has:

• graduated from an accredited medical school
• completed at least 5 years of additional training as a resident surgeon (which includes a minimum 3-year residency in an accredited general surgery program and a minimum 2-year residency in plastic surgery.
• has successfully complete comprehensive written and oral exams.

Certification from the ABPS is valid for 10 years.  Every 10 years, plastic surgeon must be recertified, which requires them to show a valid medical license in every state or province in which they practice, their current valid hospital appointments, a verification of professionalism by the chief of staff or chief of surgery at the hospitals at which they operate, and that they have completed at least 150 hours of continuing medical education, among other things.

The ABPS website is at http://www.abplsurg.org.   

The American Board of Surgery (ABS)
The American Board of Surgery (ABS) certifies general surgeons. To earn certification, a candidate 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.

Certification lasts 10 years.  

The ABS website is at http://www.absurgery.org.

The American Osteopathic Board of Surgery
To become certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery (AOBS), an applicant must: 

• have graduated from an AOA accredited college of osteopathic medicine. 
• be licensed to practice in the state or territory where his or her practice is conducted.
• be able to show evidence of conformity to the standards in the Code of Ethics of the AOA.
• have been a member in good standing of the AOA or the Canadian Osteopathic Association for the 2 years immediately prior to the date of certification.
• have satisfactorily completed an AOA-approved internship.
• show evidence of satisfactory completion of previous years of an AOA-approved residency training program in general surgery or one of the surgical specialties.
• pass a written, an oral, and a clinical examination.
• have completed training from the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons or a general surgical residency the American Osteopathic Association of a general surgery residency.

The AOBS website is at http://www.aobs.org.  

American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS)
Although the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) is not a member board of the ABMS, to be eligible for its certification a surgeon must have a  prior certification in a medical specialty overseen by the ABMS, such as the boards of dermatology, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, general surgery, or plastic surgery.

The ABCS has established a strict set of criteria to ensure experience and proficiency in cosmetic surgery. To become board certified cosmetic surgeon a physician must:

• be board-certified in an original surgical specialty recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
• have been in the practice of cosmetic surgery for the past 5 years.
• have performed no fewer than 1,000 cosmetic surgical procedures.
• be currently performing a minimum of 200 documented cosmetic procedures per year.
• pass a stringent 2-day oral and written examination.
• be of good moral character.

The ABCS is at http://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org.

Professional Societies
There are several professional medical societies in the areas of plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgery. Membership in any of these societies is not required to practice cosmetic plastic surgery, nor does membership mean that a surgeon is competent or skillful. But, being a member assures that the surgeon meets their criteria for enrollment. Think of membership as prestigious and impressive, but not necessary.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
To be a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), a surgeon must be certified by the ABPS (or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and/or the Corporation Professionelle des Medicins du Quebec). In addition to board certification, an ASPS member must complete a total of 150 CME credit hours within every 2-year period to keep their membership.

The ASPS website is at http://www.plasticsurgery.org.

 
The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)
The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) 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). In order to be a member of the ASAPS, a surgeon 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).
• have performed a significant number and variety of cosmetic surgical cases.
• be sponsored by two ASAPS-member plastic surgeons.
• adhere to the Code of Ethics of the ASAPS.

The ASAPS website is at http://surgery.org.

Additional Organizations

Applicants for fellowship in the ACS are required to have the following qualifications:

• Graduation from a medical school acceptable to the ACS.
• certification by surgical specialty board that is a member of the ABMS and that is appropriate to the applicant's specialty practice.
• a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in their state or province.
• 1 year of surgical practice after completion of all formal training.
• an appointment on the surgical staff of the applicant's primary hospital.
• a current practice that establishes the applicant as a specialist in surgery.
• proof of ethical fitness as well as professional proficiency as determined by an appropriate College Credentials Committee.

The ACS website is at http://www.facs.org.

Continuing Medical Education (CME)
Many states require that a physician continue their medical education. Medicine is a field that changes rapidly and physicians and surgeons must keep up. Most states require a minimum number of hours of continuing medical education (CME) before allowing a physician to renew their license.

Professional societies and medical specialty boards also have CME requirements to maintain membership or certification.  

How to Find A Good Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon
A recommendation from another patient is one of the best ways to find an excellent surgeon. Speak with people who have had cosmetic surgery every chance you can get.  Ask to see their plastic surgery before-and-after photos. Ask them what they thought of the whole experience.

However, if you are looking for information online, remember that the internet is full of anonymous people who may not be real patients. Someone may spread misinformation about a surgeon for their own reasons. Always consider the source and trust only well-known cosmetic plastic surgery portals when you are collecting opinions. 

Also, remember that just knowing a surgeon's affiliations or memberships doesn't mean that he is the right cosmetic plastic surgeon for you. Certifications and associations do not guarantee that the surgeon has the same taste in aesthetics as you, nor does it imply that you will get the result you are seeking. Use all of the information on this page, in the next few sections, and on our message board to determine what you need, what you are looking for, and which plastic surgeon is right for you.

Where to Get Referrals For Qualified Plastic Surgeons
Now that you know what to look for when choosing a plastic surgeon, where do you find it?  This part of the process can be confusing and frustrating. With the popularity of plastic surgery TV shows and the rise in cosmetic surgery today, there are physicians everywhere advertising their services. The Internet is full of plastic surgery information sites designed to get your business and not educate or support you during this very important journey. So where do you start?

You can visit our own referral section for a listing of some of the best surgeons in your area.

You can also use our Tuck That Tummy Discussion and Support Forum to ask for tummy tuck surgeon referrals.  The forum is an invaluable tool to gain support and find friendly people to help you through your journey.  By posting a request for abdominoplasty surgeon recommendations on our board, you may get several patients sharing the names of their plastic surgeons. You more than likely will be able to see their tummy tuck before-and-after photos and read their tummy tuck surgery journals.

Some people on the discussion board would rather email their personal information in private so you might want to create an email address that you wouldn't mind posting publicly if you don't want to post your main email address.

If you have friends or relatives who work in the medical field, and if you feel comfortable discussing the matter, ask them whom they recommend. They may also tell you whom to avoid. You can also ask your general practitioner or your gynecologist.  They usually know of a good plastic surgeon you may want to check out. Ask around at your gym or salon, if you feel comfortable enough. A salon is an especially good source for information, since people talk to their hair stylists about everything and many gush about their surgeons. Hair stylists also see the results up close and personal, so they may have a very good perspective.

Be cautious about doctors who appear on TV or who have been interviewed in magazines or newspapers. Appearing on TV or in magazines does not mean that a plastic surgeon is a great one, especially when you consider the rise of plastic surgery in the media today. There have been many surgeons that I would not recommend who have appeared in documentaries, television shows, infomercials, beauty magazines, and elsewhere. Use the media for information, but do not let them make your decision for you. Even if they really are good, they may have incredibly busy schedules and not be able to give you the time you deserve. 

Communicate with your plastic surgeon
Communication is an absolute necessity to having a good doctor-patient relationship. If you cannot communicate what it is that you desire, how can you expect your plastic surgeon to know what you want or what your expectations are? Talk openly with your surgeon. Be sure that he or she is open to your desires and wishes, as well as what he may believe is realistic. This is your body, but your plastic surgeon is the one who will be operating.

Communication is a very important aspect of surgery. Don't be afraid to speak up. Your surgeon needs your input. Go into a plastic surgeon's office with an idea of what it is you want. Ask all the questions you want to ask. Explain these desires to your surgeon then listen what he or she has to say about what can be achieved realistically.

Also, realize that you cannot bring in a photo of someone else's body and say, "Make me look like this." What you want and what is possible may be two different things. You should bring photos of what you like and don't like to help convey what you want. You can have great results, but as a general rule, a plastic surgeon can only improve on what you already have. 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 must interview the cosmetic plastic surgeon for a job because this is your health and well being that you are putting in that surgeon's hands.

The TuckThatTummy.com Surgeon Referral Database
You may visit our own referral section for a listing of some of the best surgeons in your general area.