Patient Resources

Safe Surgery Practices

The Most Important Things You Should Know About Plastic Surgery
Safety Tips, Facts and Statistics
Top 10 Questions To Ask Your Surgeon Before Going Under The Knife

Quick Facts

  • 28% did not check their doctor’s credentials before surgery
  • 37% did not check if their surgeon was certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
  • 54% did not check if their surgeon completed an accredited residency training program in plastic surgery.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 6,000 members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 90 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Safety Tips

The ASPS offers the following suggestions to anyone interested in having cosmetic plastic surgery.

Check Board Certification: Determine if your physician is certified by a board approved by The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Members of the ASPS are certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only board recognized by ABMS that certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body. This ensures that the plastic surgeon has graduated from an accredited medical school and completed at least five years of surgical residency, usually three years of general surgery and two years of plastic surgery.

Ensure Safe Facilities: Everyone who chooses cosmetic plastic surgery has the right to a safe procedure. Injectables should be administered in a setting with appropriate medical personnel and necessary equipment to observe patients and manage potentialcomplications, as well as provide for the disposal of medical waste as required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. ASPS requires all members who perform surgery under anesthesia to do so in an accredited, licensed or Medicare-approved facility.

Require a Medical Evaluation: When considering a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure, consult with a physician for anevaluation, as well as a full medical history, to determine what is most appropriate.

Be Informed: Speak with friends and family about the procedure as well as with a physician. When a treatment decision is made co-operatively between the physician and patient, the physician should explain the risks, benefits, alternatives, and reasoning for the proposed treatment, after which an informed consent document should be signed by the patient.

Look For Specialty Group Affiliation: Membership in the ASPS ensures that not only is the plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, but that the plastic surgeon regularly attends continuing medical education courses and adheres to a strict code of ethics. For more information call the ASPS at (888) 4-PLASTIC (888-4752784) or visit www.plasticsurgery.org.

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