Selecting a Facelift Surgeon
Selecting a facelift surgeon is a confusing task without specific knowledge about board certification and any licensed medical doctor can claim to be any specialist regardless of medical education and training, this confusion can be hard to decipher. First, let’s explore recognized plastic surgery board certification under the American Board of Medical Specialties.
The American Board of Medical Specialties is the official oversight board of medical specialties. The ABMS consists of 24 member boards of their respective specialties that certify physicians. These boards are not memberships or professional societies, but independent non-profit organizations.
The 24 Boards of the ABMS are as follows:
- American Board of Allergy and Immunology
- American Board of Anesthesiology
- American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery
- American Board of Dermatology
- American Board of Emergency Medicine
- American Board of Family Medicine
- American Board of Internal Medicine
- American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics
- American Board of Neurological Surgery
- American Board of Nuclear Medicine
- American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- American Board of Ophthalmology
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
- American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
- American Board of Pathology
- American Board of Pediatrics
- American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- American Board of Plastic Surgery
- American Board of Preventive Medicine
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
- American Board of Radiology
- American Board of Surgery
- American Board of Thoracic Surgery
- American Board of Urology
The growing popularity of cosmetic procedures has become attractive to non-plastic surgeons desiring the cash-based business model. Real board-certified plastic surgeons have nicknamed these imposters as “cosmetic cowboys.” In fact, this expanding group of non-plastic surgeons have organized to create their own board certifications to legitimize themselves and create white coat confusion.
These cosmetic cowboys are physicians whose official training is anything but plastic surgery. They seek training in plastic surgery procedures through alternative avenues such as weekend conferences without completing an accredited plastic surgery training program.
The cosmetic cowboys have been known to attempt to explain themselves by marginalizing real plastic surgeons as “reconstructive surgeons” or attempting to claim plastic surgeons are trained in “burns” and “wounds.” To be fair, yes, plastic surgeons are trained in reconstructive procedures, burns and wounds, but at least they are officially trained in these areas within their official accredited plastic surgery training.
Learn more about the American Board of Plastic Surgery and to check board certification status of your facelift surgeon.
The Facelift Consultation Process
- Consult with three board certified plastic surgeons.
- Take note of the time they spend with you.
- Ask questions and take notes.
- Speak with the surgeon’s staff.
- What information is provided to you about the procedure?
- Is it a heavy sales visit?
- Ask to see Before and After Photos.
- Inquire about hospital credentials.
- Make sure you analyze and understand the procedures recommended, quoted for, and on your surgical consent form.
- Make sure the surgeon you consult with will be the same one doing the procedure. Double check the surgical consent form for this too.