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Board Certification
To practice medicine in the United States, doctors must be licensed by the states in which they work. However, being licensed does not indicate whether a doctor is qualified to practice in a specific medical specialty, such as family medicine, surgery or dermatology. A licensed physician may perform cosmetic procedures without being board-certified in plastic surgery. Just because a doctor is “board-certified” does not mean he or she is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).
Many “cosmetic surgeons” say that they are board certified, but only the American Board of Plastic Surgery has traditionally overseen the training of plastic surgeons. Founded in 1931, all members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) are certified by the ABPS or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The ABPS is the only one of the 24 boards approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties that certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body. The American Board of Medical Specialties was created to protect patients by regulating the quality of medical education.
To make sure your plastic surgeon is qualified, look for the ASPS logo. You can verify that Dr. Adam Newman is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery by calling the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) at 1-866-275-2267 or visit ASPS online at www.plasticsurgery.org.