Importance of Board Certification

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)

Only members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons may display the ASPS logo. This symbol of excellence in plastic surgery is what to look for when deciding on a surgeon. It tells you that you are choosing a physician who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada ­ important credentials.

What Makes ASPS Members Uniquely Qualified?

In most states, a licensed physician may perform plastic surgery without being board-certified in plastic surgery. Just because a doctor is board-certified does not mean he or she is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).

All members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons are certified by the ABPS or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The ABPS is the only one of the 24 boards approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties that certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body.

To be ABPS board-certified, a physician must meet these rigid requirements:

• Graduate from an accredited medical school
• Complete a combination of at least five years of general surgery and plastic surgery residency training
• Pass comprehensive oral and written exams

Besides certification, membership in ASPS requires a plastic surgeon to regularly attend continuing medical education courses and to adhere to a strict code of ethics. All ASPS members are required to perform surgery in accredited surgical facilities.

To make sure your surgeon has these outstanding qualifications, look for the
ASPS logo!

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS)

A surgeon can only become a member in the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) by invitation and membership is limited to formally trained, experienced plastic surgeons whose practices emphasize cosmetic plastic surgery of the face and body. Society membership remains an exclusive privilege and only about one-third of American Board of Plastic Surgery certified surgeons have been accepted into ASAPS membership. Physicians trained in specialties other than plastic surgery are not eligible for membership.

ASAPS Membership

Invitation and election to ASAPS membership require that a surgeon achieve the following:

• Be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or, in plastic surgery by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada;
• Be in at least the third year of active practice following board certification;
• Participate in accredited Continuing Medical Education (CME) to stay current with developments in the field of cosmetic plastic surgery and patient safety;
• Document the performance of a significant number and variety of cosmetic surgical cases to demonstrate wide experience;
• Be sponsored by two ASAPS-member plastic surgeons to help ensure that the applicant's professional reputation meets the high standards required by ASAPS;
• Adhere to current ethical standards for professional conduct as outlined in the Code of Ethics observed by all ASAPS-member surgeons;
• Operate in accredited surgical facilities; and
• Be elected by at least 80% of the Active Membership