According to a report by the American Society of Plastic Surgery, more and more untrained physicians are performing plastic surgery procedures. Unfortunately, there has also been an uprise in post surgical complications with poor results due to this.

Many medical facilities offer plastic surgery procedures from medical doctors unskilled and unqualified to do so. In many states, any licensed physician can describe themselves as a plastic surgeon and can make the claim that they are board certified, even if their certification is in Internal Medicine or Gynecology etc.

It is important to do your due diligence prior to agreeing to have any plastic surgery procedure done by a physician.

A doctor’s education, training, years of experience, and peer recognition are crucial elements in determining their ability to provide you with the care you need. Experience can vary from physician to physician, especially where technology outpaces practices.

These are things to look for when choosing a plastic surgeon:

• Are they recognized from their peers
• Are they board-certified in plastic surgery
• Do they have hospital privileges
• Are they a member of a recognized medical society
• Are they recognized throughout their community
• Are they trained in their specialty field of practice

Be concerned of anyone claiming to be a plastic surgeon who:

• Does not have any hospital affiliations
• Has received disciplinary actions issued against them in the past
• Fails to explain the procedure clearly, and is overly eager to start the surgery
• Has a staff that is rude and appears unprofessional
• Is not certified with one of the medical boards that governs plastic surgery, including: American Board of Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgery and American Society of Aesthetics Plastic Surgery