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How to Find Board Certified Plastic Surgeons for Your Breast Augmentation

The most important factor in having successful breast augmentation surgery is your surgeon. Finding the best plastic surgeon to perform your procedure is the single most important thing to do to ensure you get the results you want. It is the surgeon who does the work and who is capable of helping you achieve your goals. But selecting a skilled plastic surgeon to perform your breast augmentation can be confusing and time consuming.

We are going to reduce the time you will need to spend researching your plastic surgeon and, with any luck, cut through some of the confusion for you. In this section, we will tell you what you need to look for when trying to find a plastic surgeon. We are going to cover licenses, certifications, and memberships in professional societies that you should look for in a surgeon so that you are informed in making your decision so that you will know when you find the plastic surgeon that is right for you.

Finding the Names of the Best Plastic Surgeons

Finding a good cosmetic surgeon starts with collecting names. If you know anyone who has had cosmetic surgery or breast augmentation, ask those people about their experience and see if they would recommend their plastic surgeon. A referral from a satisfied patient is one of the best ways to find an excellent surgeon. However, a glowing reference from someone who has had a great nose job does not mean that the plastic surgeon is wonderful at breast augmentation.

Ask anyone who has had cosmetic surgery what about the surgeon (and office staff) was good or bad. Did your friend feel that they were treated well? Were they given all the information they wanted? Ask about the doctor’s personality. Your friend may like having a doctor with a personality that might irritate you.

However, you might not want to be telling people that you are considering cosmetic surgery. That is understandable even though people are much more open about “having a little work done.”

Another excellent source is your general physician or gynecologist. They almost certainly have other patients who have had cosmetic surgery and have seen the results. They may also know what plastic surgeons in the area have a good reputation and what their specialties are.

You can even ask around your gym, if you feel comfortable enough. Another excellent source for names of surgeons and recommendations is your hair salon or beauty parlor. People talk to their hair stylists about everything and many gush about their plastic surgeon. Stylists and beauticians also see their customers before and after surgery, so they may have their own opinions on which surgeons do good work.

You can also use our own Breast Augmentation and Breast Implants Discussion and Support Forum to ask for referrals. The forum is here to give you support and put you in touch with people who can help you through your journey. By posting a message asking for plastic surgeon recommendations on the board, you may get several patients sharing the names of their surgeons. You can chat with real patients to get their take on their surgeries and what makes a good cosmetic surgeon. Some patients would rather email their personal information in private so you should create an email address you wouldn't mind posting publicly. Ask to see these patients' before-and-after photos. Even if someone does not like their results, you should ask to see before-and-after photos. Remember that beauty is subjective and so are cosmetic surgery results. What one person thinks is a bad result may be due to unrealistic expectations and may actually be good work on the part of the surgeon.

The BreastImplants4You.com Cosmetic Surgeon Referral Database

You can also visit NewImage.com to find a board-certified surgeon in your general area.

Plastic Surgeons in Magazines and on Television

With the popularity of plastic surgery TV shows and rise in popularity of cosmetic surgery today, there are physicians everywhere advertising their services. The Internet is full of plastic surgery information sites designed to get your business. It can be overwhelming. Be cautious and remember that these sites are advertisements for that doctor or clinic.

There is also a whole raft of reality television shows about plastic and cosmetic surgery. A surgeon’s appearance on or even hosting of a TV program is not always an indicator of quality. His or her being named in magazine articles maybe a factor of having a good public relations firm. There have been many surgeons that I would not recommend who have appeared in documentaries, television shows, infomercials, beauty magazines, "Best Surgeons of the Year" magazines, and other publications. Use the media for information, but do not let them make your decision for you.

Another factor to consider is that many of these “media” surgeons are incredibly busy. They may be overworked and overcommitted, which means they may not be able to give you the time you deserve.

Especially with the internet but also with television and magazines, you must take a good look at the source of information. Take everything you read or see with a grain of salt. If it sounds too good to be true, it may not be true. Anyone can post anything on the internet. They may have an axe to grind or, for that matter, not even be a real person. Surgeons can list qualifications that they don’t necessarily have and post before-and-after photos from patients they never touched.

And one person posting in many areas about her bad experience may not mean that the surgeon is bad, since you will only hear her side in the matter. They may be telling the truth, or just their version of the truth.

Another factor you have to consider is that a plastic surgeon may have done quality work at one time, but is now resting on his or her laurels. Or the surgeon may have built up a cosmetic surgery practice to the point where they are so busy they are rushing when they should be taking time. Make sure you talk to patients who have dealt with a given surgeon recently.

Once You Have Names of Plastic Surgeons, Check Them Out

The first thing to do before you meet with your cosmetic surgeon is to find out what his or her qualifications are. Many surgeons have websites where they describe their education, training, and qualifications. It is important to find out the doctor’s credentials and study that information carefully. Don’t be afraid to double-check your doctor by calling a state medical board or medical specialty board to confirm information. You can learn more on how to research your surgeon here.

Anyone with a medical degree and a valid license can set themselves up to practice cosmetic or plastic surgery. Any licensed physician can practice in any branch of medicine they wish. Simply having an MD after your name does not make you good at plastic surgery. There are fly-by-night surgeons out there, unfortunately, who have taken a weekend course in a cosmetic procedure and start doing it on customers on Monday.

Before you choose a plastic surgeon, check on his or her medical license by checking with your state medical board, which is part of the state government and is usually located in the state capital. (See our page on state medial boards for phone numbers and websites).

If the surgeon says he or she is on staff at a given hospital, call that hospital and check. If the cosmetic surgeon says that he is not on staff at any local hospital or does not have admitting privileges, proceed very cautiously. This is not a good sign. Even surgeons who perform only cosmetic procedures in their offices usually have admitting privileges or are on staff at a local hospital.

Also, just because a given surgeon has sterling qualifications and certifications doesn't mean that he or she is the best plastic surgeon for you. These certifications and associations do not guarantee that the surgeon has the same taste in aesthetics as you, nor does it mean you will get the results you are seeking.

You may end up with names of both plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons. Plastic surgery encompasses both cosmetic surgery (done for aesthetic or appearance purposes only) and reconstructive surgery (done to return function or normality, such as repair after accidents or disease). Some surgeons specialize only in cosmetic procedures, while some plastic surgeons do both or reconstructive surgery only.

What is a Board-Certified Surgeon?

You may have heard the phrase “board certified” bandied about in any discussion of plastic surgery. But this can be confusing because several medical specialty boards offer certification. There are doctors who advertise themselves as being 'board certified' but who do not say which board certified them or what area of medicine they are certified in.

A qualified cosmetic surgeon might be certified in plastic surgery, in surgery, in otolaryngology (for cosmetic surgery of the head and neck), in ophthalmology (for surgery around the eyes), or in dermatology (liposuction and skin surgeries). But having certification in pathology (the area of medicine that studies tissue samples and the effects of diseases) or pediatrics (children’s medicine) is not really applicable to cosmetic plastic surgery. Many doctors have left other fields of medicine to practice plastic surgery or have added plastic surgery procedures to their other area of practice because it is lucrative.

Also, remember that while having a board-certified surgeon is important, it is not the only thing to consider with selecting your surgeon. An artistic eye, good communication skills, and surgical expertise are all important for a satisfactory outcome.

Don’t confuse medical specialty boards with state medical boards. A medical specialty board is the professional group that oversees the certification of medical specialists within the United States. A state medical board (sometimes called a board of medical examiners or something similar) is the agency in each of the states that licenses physicians to practice medicine within that state. Many doctors have a medical license in more than one state.

The organization that oversees medical specialty boards in the United States is the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which comprises 24 member boards. One of the member boards is the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), which offers certification in plastic and reconstructive surgery, including cosmetic surgery. However, plastic surgery of the head and face is also a subspecialty within otolaryngology (medicine and surgery of the head and neck).

There is also the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, which is not a member of the ABMS. However, to be certified by this board, a surgeon must have been certified first by another medical specialty board, either in plastic surgery, otolaryngology, general surgery, ophthalmology, or dermatology. Similarly, the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery offers certification, but only to surgeons who are already certified within otolaryngology or plastic surgery. It is not a member of the ABMS either.

Often, surgeons who perform breast augmentation will have certifications in either plastic surgery or surgery, and sometimes in both. You may see the initials FACS after a surgeon’s name. That stands for Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, which means he or she is a member of the American College of Surgeons and has been board certified in surgery.

A board-certified physician or surgeon is sometimes referred to as a diplomate of the certifying board or organization. You may see this word on a plaque or a framed certificate on the office wall.

With breast augmentation, when you hear the term, "board-certified", it most commonly means certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), or in Canada, by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). Doctors of Osteopathy (a DO rather than an MD) can be certified in plastic surgery through their osteopathic board and also through the ABPS. (Osteopathy is a type of medicine that emphasizes a holistic view of the body, but it is equivalent to medicine in all respects.)

Board certification in plastic surgery by the ABPS assures that a plastic surgeon has completed his or her residency, is trained in plastic surgery, has practiced that medical specialty for a number of years, and has passed oral and written exams issued. The ABPS requires that a surgeon be a graduate from an accredited medical school, have completed at least 5 years of additional training as a resident surgeon including a minimum 3-year residency in an accredited general surgery program and a minimum 2-year residency in plastic surgery. Then the candidate must pass rigorous written and oral tests before he or she is certified. Board-certified surgeons must be recertified every 10 years.

You can find out more about the American Board of Plastic Surgery at its website. The American Board of Surgery’s website is here.

Board Eligible: Not a Useful Term

Becoming certified by the ABPS or other medical specialty board can take years to complete. Some surgeons may use the term “board eligible” to imply that they are in the process of meeting the criteria for board certification, but have not done so yet, or that they do not choose to do so. However, the ABMS does not recognize the term “board eligible.” Either you are board certified or you are not.

If a plastic surgeon says the he or she is board eligible, ask which board they are talking about and ask for details on where they are in the process of certification. For instance, ask where they went to college and medical school and when they graduated. Ask where they trained, including where they did their residency, and what continuing medical education (CME) courses they take. Ask them why they are not board certified as yet. With these questions answered, you will know if the surgeon has had the medical training he or she needs.

As noted earlier, to be eligible to apply for certification by the ABPS, a surgeon must have completed 5 years of residency in general surgery and plastic surgery. They will be performing surgery during that time under the supervision of a more senior surgeon and may have developed very good skills during that time.

Membership in Professional Aesthetic Medicine Societies

There are several medical societies in the fields of plastic and cosmetic surgery. Membership in these societies is not required to practice cosmetic plastic surgery, nor does it mean that a surgeon is competent and has a skillful eye. But, being a member of these societies is a good marker for quality. Membership assures you that the surgeon meets their stringent criteria.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has as members about 97% of all physicians who are certified by the ABPS. In order to be a member of ASPS, plastic surgeons must be certified by the ABPS or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. You can find out more about the ASPS and check on a surgeon’s membership at its website.

The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) only accepts cosmetic plastic surgeons certified by either the ABPS or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). The ASAPS also requires the members be in at least the third year of active practice following board certification. They have their website here. This society, as its name indicates, deals only with cosmetic surgery and procedures.

Continued Medical Education (CME)

Medicine is constantly advancing. At one time, a person could graduate from medical school and never study medicine again. Now, all physicians and surgeons must continue their education in what are called continuing medical education (CME) courses. Most states require that a physician or surgeon take at least a minimum amount of hours of CME before he or she can renew their license. Professional societies like the ASPS and the ASAPS require a certain amount of CME to maintain their membership. The ABPS requires that a plastic surgeon take at least 150 hours of CME during the 3 years before re-certification.