Breast Augmentation Educational Information

Plastic Surgery vs. Cosmetic Surgery

The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is one of the 24 specialty boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). ABPS is the only ABMS board that certifies for the full spectrum of specialties attached to plastic surgery of the entire body, which includes plastic and reconstructive surgery of the head and neck, trunk and extremities.

By choosing a plastic surgeon who is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc., you can be assured that the doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Medical Education or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. This includes a minimum of five years of residency training in all areas of surgery, including at least two years devoted entirely to plastic surgery. Certification is a voluntary process a surgeon seeks after this training. To become certified, the doctor then must pass comprehensive written and oral exams.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery is a medical specialty that uses a number of surgical and nonsurgical techniques to change the appearance and function of a person's body. Plastic surgery procedures include both cosmetic enhancements as well as functionally reconstructive operations. In the former case, where aesthetics are considered more of the concern than changing the functionality, plastic surgery is also sometimes incorrectly referred to as “cosmetic surgery.” Some procedures however involve both aesthetic and functional elements.

We suggest you visit the link to the American Board of Medical Specialties website (www.abms.org) on our home page and click on “Is Your Doctor Board Certified” to check whether a doctor is board certified by any of the 24 ABMS Boards.