The Qualifications of a Cosmetic Surgeon

The ordinary person seeking a cosmetic surgeon may not know what is involved in a doctor becoming qualified to perform such procedures. Being an informed patient is a necessary task needed to know which surgeon to hire, especially since you are letting him work on your most important asset: your body.

The American Board of Plastic Surgery gives specific and detailed qualifications and only those who meet the rigorous and extensive training and experience are given the sought-after credentials from them.
What is so dangerous is that any licensed doctor can claim to be a cosmetic surgeon, so asking them for their credentials up-front is a necessary first step. While a doctor may have a certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties, he or she may not have his certification from the Board of Plastic Surgery. Each state has different disclosure laws for credentials in the surgeon's marketing and advertising material, so his or her true credentials may not be revealed. This will give you the peace of mind that you will get quality care and the beautiful outcome you desire.

Recertification of a physician's qualifications and training is now necessary for the boards and in the medical field. Along with this you can review before and after photographs of previous clients (providing they have signed a waiver) to see how well the surgeon performed on a client, as well as reviews and opinions of other patients.

So, then, what is the American Board of Plastic Surgery? This board gives certification for plastic surgery of the complete body, including the face, neck, and full body. These doctors have the most wide-ranging surgical training requirements and have the highest standards of accreditation for plastic surgery procedures for the whole body and face, including procedures such as breast augmentation, tummy tucks and facelifts.

The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) gives regulations and certifications for performing surgical procedures in a doctor's office, so make sure you doctor has these credentials. You can review a doctor's credentials by visiting your state medical board's website or giving them a call, visiting the ABMS website, or calling the hospital to find out if the doctor has hospital privileges.

All of these step-by-step instructions give you the fuel needed to make an informed decision when deciding on a cosmetic surgeon, such as Dr. Robert Heck, an internationally renowned doctor in this field, who will gladly provide any and all documentation of his qualifications.