Cosmetic Surgery Patients:
Beware vs. Be Aware

More people than ever are seeking cosmetic surgery to enhance their appearance. The growth of this field of surgery has not only attracted patients, but also some medical practitioners who haven’t necessarily been trained and/or credentialed in the specialty of plastic surgery.

A surgeon’s credentials are not only a sign of accomplishment but also serve as a source of information for patients. A surgeon’s credentials serve to document his or her academic accomplishments and qualifications. Display of these credentials offers assurance to patients as to the surgeon’s authenticity.

Credentials include diplomas or certifications documenting completion of medical school, residency training program(s), specialty board certificate(s), and professional memberships. This information should be readily available from the surgeon’s office, from local hospitals where he or she practices and from one’s county or state medical board. Internet sites for lay person access are now available and serve as an additional avenue to gain vital information regarding your potential plastic surgeon.

Among medical doctors (MD’s), as opposed to osteopathic doctors (DO’s), plastic surgeons should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This is the only “board” recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties as that representative of complete training in plastic surgery.

Plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery must first successfully complete four years of medical school and three to six years of general, orthopedic or ENT surgery residency. Following this extensive period of the “basics”, one must then complete an additional two to three years of specific training in a recognized and approved plastic surgery residency program. After completion of this ten to twelve year period of post-graduate preparation, the surgeon must then be in practice for two years prior to being allowed to take an extensive written exam in plastic surgery. First the applicant passes this exam, then he or she can be invited to participate in a half-day in person oral examination given by nationally recognized plastic surgeons who make up the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Failure rates on the written and oral exams range twelve to twenty percent on each yearly.

Following certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a surgeon can then, over time and with documented surgical experience, apply for membership in prestigious organizations such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (A.S.P.S.) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (A.S.A.P.S.).

To demonstrate the attraction which the field of cosmetic surgery has had to some physicians, ABC News “20/20” aired a segment November 3, 1999, entitled “Surgery Seminars”. This featured investigated weekend cosmetic surgery seminars sponsored by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (A.A.C.S) and the American Society for Cosmetic Breast Surgery (A.S.C.B.S.). This report by ABC was compiled by its reporters attending both seminars working with a hidden camera to film instructors and attendees. A qualified panel of board-certified plastic surgeons from across the U.S. was then gathered to evaluate the findings of the videos.

“Cosmetic surgeons are not the same as board-certified plastic surgeons who must study surgery in medical school,” said “20/20” anchor Diane Sawyer. “Some doctors pick up surgery techniques at a few weekend workshops and start practicing.”

Procedures including breast augmentation and liposuction were taught at these weekend seminars. Attendees included dentists, ophthalmologists and family practitioners. “20/20” challenged the quality of the certificates provided by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery to its weekend seminar attendees. It was noted that these certificates looked quite official and that a patient reading it could assume that the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery had affirmed this physician in some fashion. A spokesperson for the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery replied that a consumer of plastic surgery should not assume that a workshop or seminar sponsored by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery implies that the individual is qualified.

Now more than ever this investigation underscores the importance of patients being their own advocates. A patient may view a certificate by an unrecognized organization as credible documentation of a physician’s knowledge and skill with regard to certain cosmetic procedures. Again, unless the physician can produce credentials showing board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the result of a cosmetic procedure performed by such a physician could be risky.

This editorial was written to assist potential and future patients in clearly defining the training and skills that their plastic surgeon should possess.

Dr. Love is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the American Board of Surgery, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He holds memberships in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the Lipoplasty Society of North America, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery and the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery. www.drtimlove.com