Too often we see patients come into our office feeling defeated and completely hopeless due to a previously botched surgery. Each and every time it is heart breaking. The same story usually echo’s from each of these botched-surgery patient’s mouths. They were coaxed into having surgery by a Dr.’s impressive marketing plan or a friend of a friend heard of “this Doctor” who is “cheap but good.” Unfortunately, these patient’s have learned the hard way that cost-cutting when it comes to your health and well-being is NEVER worth it. They also learn the importance and true significance of the term “Board Certified”.
What Does Board Certified Actually Mean?
You may have heard this term slung around by various people and Dr.’s boasting their credentials. The actual board that they are referring to as a Plastic Surgeon is called the American Board of Plastic Surgeons (ABPS), which is then a part of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). In order to become a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons there are several rigorous standards that must be met:
- Board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery® (ABPS) or in Canada by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada®
- Complete at least six years of surgical training following medical school with a minimum of three years of plastic surgery residency training
- Pass comprehensive oral and written exams
- Graduate from an accredited medical school
- Complete continuing medical education, including patient safety each year
- Perform surgery in accredited, state-licensed, or Medicare-certified surgical facilities
- Adheres to a strict Code of Ethics
Confidence is what the ASPS and ABPS provides. As a patient, choosing a member of these strict communities gives peace of mind that they have been extremely well-trained and are very qualified to be performing cosmetic and plastic surgery.
Why does this topic seem to be popular now? Why don’t more people know?
In the information age, virtually every piece of knowledge we can attain is at our fingertips. Now more then ever, patients are becoming informed and doing their research to find the absolute best Dr. to perform their surgery. This doesn’t just boil down to qualifications. Chemistry, bed side manner and the office climate should also influence the decision. Reasons why someone may overlook the Board Certification of a potential Dr. may be trusting word of mouth from a friend or relative or even trusting the Dr.’s word and persistence or wanting a more discounted price. We cannot stress enough that no two patient’s results are the same. Just because your aunt had a positive experience does not mean the same for you. Having the reassurance of a highly esteemed Board of regulations will be much more valuable when you are lying on the surgical bed waiting to go under anesthesia.
There are many great surgeons to choose from…
The standards of a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon are simply higher and to be more trusted then a Dr. who has not gone through the extensive training. The bright side? There are so many fantastic Board Certified Plastic Surgeons to choose from! Go to consultations, do your research, view Before & After photos and be completely comfortable and confident before you elect to go under the knife. It may very well be one of the biggest decisions you make. You can actually search Board Certified Plastic Surgeons in your area by clicking here.
Shown here is a patient of Dr. Svehlak’s who underwent plastic surgery from a highly marketed and advertised company who actually books patient’s surgeries with a Dr. they can find within the scheduled time-frame of the booked procedure. It so happened that not only was her Dr. was not Board Certified but he was not even a plastic surgeon. These Dr.’s take what is referred to as a “crash course” in cosmetic procedures, in her case it was liposuction. She spent 10 long years being unhappy and insecure with her body before she contacted Dr. Svehlak and the Sunset Cosmetic Surgery team. These photos show her just before and then 4 short months after her Liposuction Revision Surgery by Dr. Steven Svehlak.
