Make Sure Your Plastic Surgeon is Board Certified By Carmel Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeons on November 09, 2021

Finding a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Why It's Important

Many health care providers are now performing plastic surgery procedures, but that doesn’t mean they are all qualified to perform plastic surgery. To be sure you are getting a competent, qualified surgeon, your plastic surgeon should be board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. To those of you who are unclear as to what being "board certified" actually means, you are invited you to read further.

American Board of Plastic Surgery

The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is one of 24 medical specialty boards that make up the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Through ABMS, the boards work together to establish common standards for physicians to achieve and maintain board certification. The boards were founded by their respective specialties to protect the public by assessing and certifying doctors who meet specific educational, training and professional requirements.

The American Board of Plastic Surgery is accountable both to the public and the medical profession through:

Helping patients by providing information about the board certification process and identifying which doctors are board certified.
Supporting physicians by creating programs that assist doctors to stay current in their field and improve their practice.
Collaborating with healthcare leaders to foster initiatives for the promotion and monitoring of healthcare quality.
Transforming healthcare by increasing awareness of the importance of board certification and lifelong learning in assuring quality care.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Plastic surgery involves many choices. The first and most important choice is selecting a board certified American Board of Plastic Surgery surgeon. The next most important decision is to make sure your surgeon is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. ASPS member surgeons meet rigorous standards including but not limited to being board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery® (ABPS) or in Canada by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada®, perform surgery in accredited, state-licensed, or Medicare-certified surgical facilities, and adhere to a strict code of ethics.

Do not be confused by other official sounding boards and certifications. The ABPS is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which has approved medical specialty boards since 1934. There is no ABMS recognized certifying board with "cosmetic surgery" in its name. By choosing a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, you can be assured that you are choosing a qualified, highly trained plastic surgeon who is board-certified by the ABPS or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

To make sure your surgeon has these outstanding qualifications, look for the ASPS Member Surgeon Symbol of Excellence.

At Carmel Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeons, both Dr. Grasee and Dr. Bergman both are highly qualified, American Board of Plastic Surgery board certified plastic surgeons and members of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.