In common parlance, the terms “cosmetic surgery” and “plastic surgery” are used interchangeably. But when it comes to certifications, the differences between a board-certified plastic surgeon and a doctor with credentials from an organization bearing the words “cosmetic surgery” or “cosmetic surgeon” are vast and critical.

Board certified plastic surgeons are members of the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), which is part of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). ABMS is the gold standard for all medical fields. When you visit a board certified cardiologist, pediatrician or neurosurgeon, this is the board that they are referring to. Nearly a decade of training and experience specific to plastic surgery in addition to rigorous peer review, screening, and ongoing maintenance of credentials are required to be a member of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. San Diego plastic surgeon, Dr. Stuart Kincaid, for example, is a certified plastic surgeon because he completed a three-year plastic surgery residency at Stanford University Medical Center in addition to a surgery residency, surgery research fellowship, and other ABPS requirements.

On the other hand, acceptance into similarly-named, yet fundamentally inequitable “cosmetic surgery” boards may require only a weekend course in liposuction, breast augmentation or face lifts. Doctors who seek membership in such associations often have ABMS certification in unrelated fields, such as radiology, internal medicine, or preventative medicine, and use credentials from organizations such as the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) to “cross over.” Boards like these are not recognized by the ABMS and members are not held to the same rigorous standards.

Surgery Risks

The risks of visiting an under qualified cosmetic surgeon were most tragically illustrated by the case of Lourdes Trinidad, a California woman who visited a doctor in Tijuana who claimed he was a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS). After receiving a liposuction operation – a procedure that has an excellent safety track record when performed by qualified plastic surgeons – Trinidad died from post-surgery complications. While fatal incidents like these are rare, situations where patients are unsatisfied with their results after visiting an under-qualified cosmetic surgeon rather than a board certified plastic surgeon are all too common.

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