Why Choose a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon?

When seeking a plastic surgery procedure, the most important consideration is the plastic surgeon that you choose to perform said procedure. Do your research and make sure that the surgeon you select is not only experienced in the procedure that you want to have, but also certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).

While complications may happen during any type of surgery, verifying that your surgeon is Board Certified by the ABPS confirms that your surgeon has undergone the rigorous training and passed the required exams to successfully receive that important professional certification.  Surgeons obtain ABPS certification by completing a superior level of training and education and passing examinations that cover all plastic surgery procedures.

What is the function of the American Board of Plastic Surgery?

The mission of the ABPS is to ensure that plastic surgeons provide safe, ethical, and efficacious service to the public by establishing the highest standards for the profession. The ABPS sets the standard for plastic surgeons’ education, examination, and certification, as well as the maintenance of their certification as specialists and subspecialists.

The ABPS provides the initial and continuous certification of its diplomates by verifying their training requirements and examination processes. Through their arduous requirements and examinations, the ABPS aims to ensure that safe, ethical plastic surgeons who possess a thorough knowledge of the full spectrum of plastic and cosmetic surgery to adhere to the highest professional standards in the field and provide the best possible service to their patients.

To date, over its 84 years of existence, the ABPS has certified over 9,858 physicians.

What does it mean to be Board-Certified?

The ABPS evaluates physicians and certifies only those that meet the Board’s established educational requirements and peer evaluation standards as “diplomates” of the ABPS. These diplomates are then referred to as “board-certified” in their specialty.

In the United States, physicians must have a medical license issued by the states in which they work in order to legally practice medicine, but a medical license alone does not denote a doctor’s qualification to perform such specialized procedures as plastic surgery. To ensure that your doctor is qualified to perform plastic surgery procedures, make sure he or she is Board Certified by the ABPS. Board Certification is an additional voluntary credential that a physician obtains after completing medical school and receiving their medical license.

Typically, plastic surgeons are trained over 16 years of college, medical school, and residency, receiving specific training in reconstructive and cosmetic procedures under direct supervision. A board-certified plastic surgeon will have additionally completed the rigorous requirements of the ABPS, as well as passing a written examination and a 2-day oral examination in which he or she has been critically evaluated by top professionals in the field.  In order to pass this oral examination, a doctor’s ethical standards are assessed, as well as their approach to patient safety, and their effectiveness in addressing various reconstructive and cosmetic challenges.

What kind of training is required for Board-Certification?

Obtaining board certification is a major achievement for plastic surgeons. Each physician is required to earn a medical degree (MD, DO, or other credential approved by an ABMS Member Board) from an accredited medical school. They must also complete six to eight years of full-time residency training experience in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).  The residency training must cover all aspects of surgery, with a minimum of 3 years focused entirely on plastic surgery.

If you’re interested in having a cosmetic procedure performed by a top-quality board-certified plastic surgeon in the greater Houston area in Texas, contact Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa, led by Dr. Olga Bachilo. Dr. Bachilo is a board-certified female plastic surgeon in Houston with extensive experience in procedures of the face and body.  She has performed hundreds of cosmetic procedures on both male and female patients, achieving fabulous natural-looking results for a multitude of satisfied Houston area residents.

To learn more about Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa and the procedures that may be most suitable for you, contact our office today at (713) 766-4643, or drop us a line at hello@glamourplasticsurgery.com.