Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon vs. Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeon: What's the Difference and Does It Matter?
This comes up a lot, and it's one of the most important things to understand before choosing a surgeon. The titles sound similar, but they are not the same thing… and the difference matters quite a bit if you are at all considering elective, aesthetic surgery!
What Is a Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeon?
A board-certified COSMETIC surgeon is trained in another surgical specialty, not plastic surgery, and then does additional training in a SHORT cosmetic surgery fellowship. That means, for example, individuals who have completed training in OBGYN or general surgery or even oral maxillofacial surgery can complete a one-year cosmetic fellowship and then state that they are a board-certified cosmetic surgeon. This certification is NOT recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) which sets the gold standard for medical speciality certification in the United States.
Bottom line - surgeons who complete a cosmetic fellowship have done years of surgical training in another surgical speciality, not plastic surgery.
What Is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon?
A board-certified plastic surgeon holds a certification specifically granted by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This board certification is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. The path to be a board-certified plastic surgeon includes four years of medical school followed by either a six-year plastic surgery residency or three years of plastic surgery training following general surgery residency. Plastic surgeons can choose to do additional one-year fellowship in a specialized area of plastic surgery, such as aesthetics. I did a one-year aesthetic surgery fellowship where I specialized in aesthetic plastic surgery. All board-certified plastic surgeons must have at minimum three years of dedicated plastic surgery training; I have seven years of dedicated plastic surgery training. Following training, to be a board-certified plastic surgeon, one must take and pass a rigorous written and oral board examination.
Why Does This Matter for You?
When you are researching providers and comparing credentials, "board-certified" alone does not tell the whole story. The question worth asking is: board-certified by which board, and what did that certification require?
I never mind when patients ask me about my training and credentials. I think it's exactly the right question to ask of any surgeon you're considering. You deserve to know who is caring for you and what their training background is.
And lastly, a moment for my own “board-certified plastic surgeon” journey
This is me in Arizona for my oral board exam! Sadly, there's not a ton of photo evidence because most of the weekend I was SO nervous, and no phones were allowed during the exam itself. But here's what I've got: an outfit pic, a shot with my fellowship mentors at the party once boards were DONE (can you see the relief in my eyes?!), and then the most relief of all… the moment I found out I had PASSED and was officially a board-certified plastic surgeon!! One of the best and proudest moments of my life. And funny enough, my son, Hunter, was a little bean in these photos too. I was about 20 weeks pregnant and took my boards with him along for the ride!
