Plastic surgery is advertised as an easy way to change your appearance, but it's still surgery; the plastic surgeon you choose, therefore, should be skilled and, more importantly, qualified to do the job
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 30, 2011 — Plastic surgeons transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of people every year. While prospective patients are attracted by the latest techniques, it is board certified plastic surgeons who best assure successful results.
You can determine a surgeon's basic aesthetic skills by viewing before-and-after photos, but you also need to know the physician's qualifications. This is easy enough: just ask for the license and certification information. Figuring out exactly what a plastic surgeon's qualifications mean, however, is not so easy.
A diploma alone does not a plastic surgeon make. After medical school, all surgeons must go through years of hands-on training, residency programs, and specialty training. Licenses represent a bare minimum of qualifications. They are state-issued, but are not specialty-specific; they merely allow an individual to provide a public medical service. So while a diploma and license are required, they do not prove that you have found a board certified plastic surgery source.
"Board certified" is a term used frequently, but which professional societies determine their qualifications? The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), for example, requires a proven level of competence, such as 6 years of training and surgical experience, as well as 3 years of plastic surgery experience. They also have ethical and professional standards.
Membership in another respected organization, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), means a plastic surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), participates in accredited Continuing Medical Education programs, and has demonstrated at least 2 years of aesthetic surgery experience. Members must adhere to a Code of Ethics and operate in an accredited facility.
For this reason, look for ABPS board certified plastic surgeons who are members of ASPS — or better, of ASAPS. While these certifications do not guarantee a surgeon can deliver the results you desire, they do represent proof of a basic skill set. Choose a plastic surgeon based on artistic aesthetic and personality. Don't be afraid to ask questions and probe; get to know your plastic surgeon.
About La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre: LJCSC is located in the Scripps/XIMED Medical Building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital Campus, at 9850 Genessee Avenue, Suite 130, in La Jolla, CA. Reach them by phone at 858-452-1981.
Media Contact: Marie Olesen, La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre (http://www.ljcsc.com), 858-452-1981
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