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FAQs
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Plastic Surgery Procedure Specific Questions
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Board Certification status is one tool a patient can use when
deciding on a surgeon. It tells the health care consumer about the
training and examinations in the specialty field that a surgeon has
completed. The training and testing requirements are listed in question
#1. Consumers can compare the ABPS requirements for certification to
those of the surgeon under consideration. |
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Helpful questions to ask of the prospective surgeon include:
- Is the doctor Board Certified and is that specialty area
appropriate to the procedure you are considering?
- What qualifications/training does the physician have to perform
the procedure in question?
- How many of this type of procedure has he/she performed?
- How many of this type of procedure does he/she perform each
year?
- If you are considering a new procedure, how did the doctor
obtain training for this?
- Has the doctor had many problems or complications with this
procedure?
- Do you feel comfortable with that doctor?
ASPS and ASAPS have brochures available on how to choose a plastic
surgeon and on many procedures which may be helpful. The websites listed
above also contain good patient information on procedures. |
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Residency training programs in specialties other than plastic
surgery do include some aspects of plastic surgery. For example,
Otolaryngology training involves plastic surgery of the head and neck.
Ophthalmology with an additional fellowship in Occuloplastic Surgery
training includes procedures in and around the eyes, and
Dermatology
training can include laser procedures of the skin. We suggest you have a
discussion with your physician about the procedure, and how his/her
training has prepared him/her for the surgery you are considering. |
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Board Certification is an additional voluntary credential a
physician chooses to obtain after medical school and residency training.
It can mean that the surgeon did not complete the requisite training
requirements for ABPS, completed training outside the Unites States or
Canada, completed surgical training in an Osteopathic program, elected
not to take an examination or was unsuccessful on the examination. |
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ABPS requirements include the minimum of five years of surgical
training outlined above. We recommend consumers contact the Board in
question and compare the training and testing requirements of the other
board to those of APBS in order to make an informed decision. |
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