ABOUT BOARD CERTIFICATION

Are you looking for a Georgia plastic surgeon? In most states, including Georgia, 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. We strongly recommend that you take the time to identify which boards have certified your surgeon, and that you consider the amount of specialized training and experience your surgeon has performing your type of procedure.

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. While the intent of the American Board of Plastic Surgery is not to designate eligibility of who may perform plastic surgery procedures, it does resolve to initiate the qualifying requirements for applicants requesting certification, regulate comprehensive examinations and present certification to those who meet the establish requirements.

To be ABPS board certified, a physician must meet these rigid requirements:

• Graduate from an accredited medical school
• Complete a combination of at least five years of general surgery and plastic surgery residency training
• Pass comprehensive oral and written exams

Besides certification, membership in ABPS requires a plastic surgeon to attend continuing medical education courses and to adhere to a strict code of ethics.

To make sure your surgeon has these outstanding qualifications, look for the ASPS logo.  You can verify that Dr. Nelson Castillo 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 the ABMS online.