The only board certification in plastic surgery is conveyed by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
In my state anyone can claim to be a plastic surgeon and can be board certified (in family practice, ob-gyn, ENT, etc.).
Always ask who is the certifiying board. Only you can decide your comfort level with a general surgeon performing your augmentation. (John Whitt, MD (retired), Louisville Plastic Surgeon)
Choosing Surgeon for Breast Augmentation
Actually an interesting question you provide. For most people the place to start is going to be interviewing surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
The next thing to look at is actual experience and results. Those things don’t naturally overlap. So you need is the best of both worlds. The general surgeon you are speaking of could be one that actually did get some significant plastic surgery training along the lines, but that would be an exception, not a rule.
There are a number of “made up” certifying boards out there so it can get very confusing as they are intentionally misleading. They may include the words “cosmetic” or “plastic” but unless it is American Board of Plastic Surgery you may be headed in the wrong direction (Byron D. Poindexter, MD, Reston Plastic Surgeon)
Would you go to a plastic surgeon to have your colon removed for a colon cancer? Would you go to a gynecologist to have a neurosurgical operation on your brain? Then why would you not go to a plastic surgeon to have a breast augmentation.
Can the general surgeon handle the complexities of capsules if they occur, or a lift if needed? I suggest you see a board certified plastic surgeon rather than take your chances, you may save a lot more than money in the long run. (Steven Schuster, MD, Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon)
I have been doing breast augmentation for a long time now. I remember thinking how easy it was to do a breast augmentation when I was a resident in training. Since then, after years of experience I still find nuance in every patient that make getting an excellent result challenging. No two cases are exactly the same and your surgeon needs to have the experience to see that. The proper plan pre op is essential. The real mark of good surgeon is one that avoids complications and just as importantly knows how to deal with complications. It is more difficult to fix a bad result. Get it right the first time! Complications do happen however so be confident that your surgeon can handle the situation.
Also, probably most importantly it is important to be comfortable with your surgeon. Implants are long term. I often feel that my augmentation patients are my patients for life. Much more so than for other procedures. Issues arise years later that may or may not require intervention. Chose someone accordingly. And yes, I would only consider a Board certified Plastic Surgeon for this procedure. (Thomas R. Walek, MD, Providence Plastic Surgeon)
Another point is that Board certified Plastic Surgeons are better trained to deal with the possible complications that can develop from breast augmentation so they can be well prepared in case something unfortunate happens. Other board certified doctors may perform the procedure when all goes well but they may not be adequately trained for dealing with the complications should they occur. (Dana Khuthaila, MD, FACS, New York Plastic Surgeon)
Plastic surgeon or General Surgeon for breast augmentation
A general surgeon is not usually specifically trained to do breast augmentation. Your friend may have in fact done very well but you should think about what is considered the standard of care in your area.
I would submit , the minimum qualifications to include board certification by the ASPS. (Stephen Delia, MD, Boston Plastic Surgeon)
Board certification implies that the surgeon has undergone the proper training and has satisfied this by passing a vigorous examination process. there are many surgeons around this country who perform cosmetic/plastic surgery without being board certified, and on occasion, the results are excellent, and sometimes the results can be disastrous. Make your decisions wisely. (Shahin Javaheri, MD, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon)
I think that you are better off going to a board certified plastic surgeon to get breast augmentation surgery done. (Steven Wallach, MD, Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)
I would submit that the true measure of a good plastic surgeon is not how well they do when things “go right”, but how they respond if you have a complication or problem. Our aim as board-certified plastic surgeons is to minimize any complications, but we are also trained in how to address any concerns or problems that may happen. Trust me, if you have done enough surgery, even world-famous plastic surgeons will have an occasional problem. A lot of “non plastic surgeons” who do cosmetic surgery learned how to do liposuction and breast augmentation in weekend courses, not in 2 or 3 year fellowships like plastic surgeons do.
A Board-certified plastic surgeon is put through a very rigorous process.in plastic surgery. I would visit a couple of doctors, ask a lot of question about how long the surgeon trained in breast augmentation, ask for worst case scenario and resolution of complications, if they occur. (Francisco Canales, MD, Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon)