Choosing your Surgeon: Questions to Ask your Patient Counselor

Are you Board Certified?
Meets the standards of one of the boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and the American Medical Association (AMA); completed four of medical school and three years supervised residency in specialty.

In what specialty are you certified? Only the American Board of Plastic Surgery can certify Plastic Surgeons. Call (215) 587-9322 to verify. Should have also completed a residency in general surgery.

Verify membership in national, state, or local medical societies. Should belong to American Society of Plastic Surgeons. TO verify membership call the AMA (312) 464-5000.

Does the Physician have hospital privileges to perform the procedure I am considering? Rigorous screening process by special committees and departments insure qualifications of surgeons who are allowed to use surgical facilities. These privileges should exist even if the plastic surgeon has his or her own facility.
Is the physician's on-site facility/operating suite accredited? Quality of care ensures a higher standard of care including quality and excellence to patients.