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In many states, any physician with a valid medical license can
legally perform surgery. With the increasing popularity of cosmetic
surgery, there has been an increase in cosmetic surgery carried out
by physicians without standardized specialty training. As such, some
specialists are performing cosmetic procedures that are out of their
scope of practice. In addition, depending on the state, doctors in
private practice with surgical suites do not need to meet the same
legal requirements as a hospital or an accredited ambulatory care
center for surgery or anesthesia services. In today’s seemingly
endless multitude of choices, it is clear that looking for the
proper credentials is essential in choosing your surgeon.
Choosing a surgeon who is a member of the American Society of
Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the first step in ensuring quality care
and outcomes. In order to become a member of the ASPS, a surgeon
must be board certified by either the American Board of Plastic
Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Board certifications by either of these bodies signifies that the
surgeon has undertaken a multi-year accredited residency training
program dedicated to plastic surgery of the face and entire body,
and has passed rigorous written and oral board certification
examinations. These two certifications are the only boards that are
recognized by the ASPS. Additionally, members of the ASPS operate
only in accredited medical facilities, adhere to a strict code of
ethics, and fulfill continuing medical education requirements,
including standards and innovations in patient safety.
In addition to checking for proper credentials, selecting a
plastic surgeon can be guided by personal referrals from friends and
family, the surgeon’s experience, and the general reputation of the
surgeon in the community. You should be comfortable and feel at ease
with asking any questions that you may have. Any consultation should
be conducted with the surgeon who will be actually performing your
surgery. Consultations with a nurse or sales person that involve
recommending or deciding what surgery you should have are
inappropriate.
Finally, although cost is an important factor, make sure you
weigh it against the qualification of your surgeon and the quality
of care of the facility. You should base your choice of surgeon on
qualifications, experience, reputation, operating facility
accreditation, and your comfort level with the surgeon. It is
ill-advised to have price as the key consideration in making your
decision about who will be performing your surgery.
Ask the right questions to get the best treatment:
1. In what
state is the doctor licensed to practice surgery?
2. Is the doctor
board certified? With which board?
3. What training did the surgeon
have after medical school? Was it in plastic surgery?
4. How many
surgeries of this type does the doctor perform each year?
5. For how
many years has the doctor performed this type of surgery?
6. What
hospital can the doctor admit patients to? You’ll want to know this
in case of an emergency. You can also check with the hospital for
the surgeon’s credentials.
7. If the doctor operates in his or her
office or ambulatory health care facility, is it accredited?
8. Does
the doctor have life-saving equipment and monitoring devices?
9. Who
administers the anesthesia? Ideally, this person is a
board-certified anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse
anesthetist.
10. What are the risks of the procedure? How often do
they happen? What does the doctor do if they happen?
LINKS
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS): www.plasticsurgery.org
Information on cosmetic surgery procedures and all of the surgeons
listed are board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
or Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS): www.abplsurg.org
Information on board certification of plastic surgeons.
American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS): www.abms.org
The American Board of Medical Specialties, a not-for-profit
organization comprising 24 medical specialty boards, is the
pre-eminent entity overseeing physician certification in the United
States.
Breast Implant Information:
www.breastimplantsafety.org
An authoritative source of information regarding breast implants and
safety issues for the general public.
Looking Your Best
This site provides information and photographs on cosmetic surgery.
Go to web page for:
Dr. Enrique Sabbagh
Dr. William Sabbagh
Dr. Lawrence Tong
Office Accreditation Web Sites
Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. (AAAHC)
www.aaahc.org
Accredits facilities that are committed to providing
high-quality health care and demonstrate a commitment by measuring
up to the Accreditation Association's high standards.
American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery
Facilities (AAAASF) www.aaaasf.org
Certifies ambulatory
surgery facilities and provides practice guidelines for surgeons
working in ambulatory surgical facilities.
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