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Check Credentials of Plastic Surgeons

Verify Board Certification

Step 1. Verify Board Certification

To verify that your doctor is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, you can go to The American Board of Medical Specialities (ABMS) website or call (312) 436-2600.

Step 2. Check Disciplinary Action

Your State Medical Board will also have information about board certification, disciplinary action, education and license verification. Find your State Medical Board.

Step 3. Verify Hospital Privileges and/or Surgical Center Accreditation

The surgical facility is also important. An ASAPS news bulletin states:

“Published data show that accredited office-based facilities have a safety record comparable to that of hospital ambulatory surgery settings. Ambulatory or office-based facilities should be accredited by a nationally or state-recognized accrediting agency, or be state licensed or Medicare certified.”

To research a hospital setting, go to The American Hospital Directory, www.ahd.com. When researching a surgical center, itshould be accredited by one of three main organizations:

  1. The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery. You can the AAAASF at (888) 545-5222 or (847) 775-1970.
  2. The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. You can call the AAAHC at (847) 853-6060.
  3. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. You can call JCAHO at (630) 792-5800.

Canada

To verify that your doctor is certified by the The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, you can go to their Directory. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is a national organization responsible for setting and maintaining the standards for postgraduate medical education, for certifying specialist physicians and surgeons in Canada, and for promoting their continuing education.

International

For doctors outside of the U.S. and Canada, you can confirm that a doctor is a member in good standing in their local national societies of plastic and aesthetic surgery and a member of The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The ISAPS website has a Directory to check a doctor online.

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