Importance of Choosing a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Whether you’re considering Botox injections or a tummy tuck, there are many important decisions when selecting a plastic surgeon. To reduce the risk of experiencing complications or an unfavorable outcome, it’s crucial to find a doctor who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Board certification signals that the surgeon has met several demanding requirements, has undergone rigorous training, and has been critically assessed for their ethical standing in how they approach cosmetic and reconstructive challenges.

Just like any other medical treatment or surgery, even minimally invasive cosmetic enhancements carry a certain degree of risk. Practitioners who do not possess advanced education and specialty training can make grave errors during the simplest of procedures.

The recent popularity of minimally-invasive “lunch time” treatments including lip augmentation and dermal fillers has spurred a market saturation of doctors – many of whom do not have board certification – offering facial rejuvenation. Getting a collagen boost and plumper cheeks with injectables may seem non-invasive and relatively risk-free, but serious complications can happen in the hands of an unskilled practitioner. Before scheduling a procedure, always ask if your doctor is board-certified by the American Board for Plastic Surgery and inquire about their experience and training injecting fillers in the face.

Here are a few more reasons why it’s paramount to use a board-certified surgeon for any type of aesthetic or reconstructive surgery or procedure.

Extensive training & expertise

Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty requiring years of education and in-depth training. By choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon, you can rest assured that your practitioner has successfully completed a minimum of five years of supervised surgical training focused on plastic surgery of the face and body.  Any licensed doctor with a medical degree can promote themselves as a “cosmetic” surgeon, even if they have not completed an ABPS- approved program and plastic surgery residency. Board-certified plastic surgeons are able to hone their technical skills, thus improving standards of care and patient outcomes.

Better aesthetic judgement

Extensive training and knowledge in all facets of plastic surgery not only provides the technical expertise, but also a sharper eye for aesthetics. Just because a surgeon knows how to augment the bust line with silicone implants doesn’t mean they have aesthetic judgement to know which size would best complement the patient’s frame and proportions. In the same vein, virtually any physician can wield a syringe, and some are practicing outside of their medical specialty. Doctors who have been deemed ExpertInjectors by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery have the hands-on experience and training to use FDA-approved fillers and injectables for aesthetic purposes. Next time you see a “Medi Spa” advertising low-cost injectables or at-home Botox parties, ask yourself if it’s worth the risk to save a few dollars.

Surgical facility certifications

By choosing a board-certified surgeon, you can also be assured that they operate in a surgical facility that is safe, well-equipped and accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities. It’s also a good idea to ask your board-certified practitioner about their hospital privileges, since facilities perform extensive background checks before extending these privileges.

Plastic surgery in NYC

Finding a highly skilled, ABPS board-certified plastic surgeon is important for your health and safety. Dr. B. Aviva Preminger is Ivy League educated, board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and has hospital privileges at Lenox Hill-Manhattan Eye and Ear Infirmary, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt, and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. She also has qualifications as an ExpertInjector™.

To schedule a private consultation in her Manhattan plastic surgery office, please call today.