Patient Guides

1. How to choose a plastic surgeon

Credentials matter more than marketing. In the United States, any licensed physician can legally perform many cosmetic procedures — the title "cosmetic surgeon" alone does not guarantee surgical training in the procedure you want. Here's what actually matters:

• Board certification in plastic surgery — specifically by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), covered in the next guide.
• Hospital privileges — ask whether the surgeon has privileges to perform your specific procedure at an accredited hospital, even if it will be done in an office facility. Hospitals vet surgeons; a surgeon with no privileges anywhere is a caution sign.
• Experience with your specific procedure — ask how many of these procedures they perform per year, and ask to see before-and-after photos of their own patients with builds similar to yours.
• Accredited surgical facility — look for AAAASF, AAAHC, or Joint Commission accreditation if surgery happens outside a hospital.
• How complications are handled — every surgeon has complications; good ones have a clear plan, revision policy, and emergency coverage.

Take your time. A reputable surgeon will never pressure you to book, and a good consultation should feel like an evaluation in both directions.

2. What board certification means

"Board certified" is only as meaningful as the board doing the certifying:

• ABPS (American Board of Plastic Surgery) — the only plastic-surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Certification requires years of accredited plastic-surgery residency training plus written and oral examinations. You can verify any surgeon's ABPS status free at abplasticsurgery.org.
• ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons) — a membership society whose members must be ABPS-certified (or the Canadian equivalent). Membership is a good additional signal.
• State medical license — the baseline, not a specialty credential. Check your state medical board's website for license status and any disciplinary actions.
• Other "boards" — some certifying bodies are not ABMS-recognized and have far lighter requirements. If a provider's certification isn't ABPS (for surgical procedures), ask exactly what training it required.

For non-surgical treatments (injectables, lasers), training and supervision requirements vary widely by state — ask who performs the treatment, their credential, and who supervises.

3. Questions to ask at your consultation

Bring this list. Good providers welcome these questions:

• Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
• How many times have you performed this exact procedure in the last year?
• May I see before-and-after photos of your own patients — including average results, not just the best ones?
• Where will the procedure be performed, and is the facility accredited?
• Who administers anesthesia, and what is their credential?
• What are the realistic risks and the most common complications you see?
• What is your revision policy and what would a revision cost?
• What does recovery actually look like week by week, and when can I return to work?
• What is the all-in cost — surgeon's fee, facility, anesthesia, garments, follow-ups?
• Who do I call — day or night — if something feels wrong after the procedure?

Write the answers down. If anything is vague, rushed, or dismissive, that's information too.

4. Safety checklist before any procedure

Red flags — reconsider if you see:

• Heavy discounting, "today-only" pricing, or pressure to pay a deposit on the spot
• No physical examination before quoting a procedure
• Vague answers about who performs the procedure or administers anesthesia
• No discussion of risks at all — every real procedure has them
• Reviews mentioning unreachable staff after complications
• Surgery offered in a non-accredited facility with no hospital transfer plan

Green lights — good signs:

• ABPS certification you've verified yourself
• A thorough medical history taken before any recommendation
• Honest talk about what the procedure can't do
• Written quotes, written aftercare instructions, and a named after-hours contact
• Willingness to say "you're not a good candidate for this"

Finally: disclose everything — medications, supplements, smoking, prior procedures. Surprises are the enemy of safe outcomes.