Cosmetic Surgery-Guidelines to Choosing a Surgeon

Cosmetic surgery has become more widespread in the past several years. One of the growing concerns about this type of surgery is the fact that many disreputable people are performing these procedures and are neither qualified nor certified. Many of the horror stories that have been in the news about cosmetic surgeries that have gone awry have been attributed to poor medical care. If you are considering having cosmetic surgery, there is a way that you can check to ensure that your physician is qualified to perform the procedure.

You should make sure that your physician is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the largest group of plastic surgeons in the world. This organization, which was founded in 1931, is made up of board-certified surgeons in the field of reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. If your physician has an ASPS certificate you can be assured that he is certified by either the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

If your physician is a member of the ASPS, this also means that he has competed at least five years or training in basic surgery, with at least two of those being spent in the plastic surgery field. He has also been totally trained in all areas of cosmetic procedures such as those dealing with the nose, face, and breast. He also has experience with reconstructive surgery.

The ASPS also requires its members to continue their medical training so that these doctors can keep abreast of all the newest techniques and procedures as well as the latest safety practices. These physicians operate only in accredited medical facilities and follow the strictest ethical code.
So if you are planning to have cosmetic surgery, you should look for ASPS certification. If your doctor is an ASPS member, you can rest assured that you are in good hands.