How to Verify Credentials of a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

In a perfect world, we could look at an advertisement for a rhinoplasty surgeon and trust that what it said was the truth. We would be able to sit in the surgeon's office and not have to read each and every certificate on the wall to see if they are up-to-date. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world. For this reason, we have to verify a doctor's credentials to make sure he is a board-certified plastic surgeon.

A very important step during the search for the right surgeon is the process of verifying his accreditation and credentials. You can make sure a plastic surgeon has board certification by going to the American Board of Medical Specialties' website. You can also check whether a surgeon is board certified by calling 1-866-ASK-ABMS (or 1-866-275-2267).

To ensure that a surgeon's medical license is valid, you can write the medical board for your state or visit your state's medical board website. Here is a list of their addresses. A state medical board is the state agency that oversees the licensing of physicians and surgeons. Some state medical board websites display information on whether a surgeon has been involved in a disciplinary action issued by the state.

Check Malpractice Lawsuits

Medical malpractice is a very scary subject for all parties — doctors and patients alike. Sometimes lawsuits have merit, but many times they are frivolous. There are great surgeons who have been sued and there are bad surgeons who haven't been sued yet. If you do find that your surgeon has been involved in a recent lawsuit, ask the reason why. You have a right to know unless there is a specific gag order regarding the details. However, a gag order normally only limits information regarding the amount settled, not the reason behind the lawsuit.

Malpractice lawsuits can be filed for many reasons, including because the results were not what the patient expected or because something unforeseen (undiagnosed medical conditions, anesthesia complications, etc.) happened that was not the fault of any particular person. The basis of a medical malpractice suit is supposed to be negligence, where the physician or surgeon administered care that was substandard in that particular medical community or specialty.

Verifying a Surgery Center's Accreditation

If your surgery is to be performed at a freestanding surgical center or surgical suite in your surgeon's office, check to see if it is accredited. Accreditation associations ensure that surgery centers are well equipped, have equipment to properly sterilize instruments, have an emergency protocol, have proper emergency equipment such as a crash cart on hand, and are easily accessible to emergency vehicles.

Here are the four accreditation associations in the United States, and one in Canada:

Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
3201 Old Glenview Road
Suite 300 Wilmette
Illinois 60091
Telephone: (847) 853-6060
Fax: (847) 853-9028
Website: http://www.aaahc.org

American Association for Accreditation for Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF)
1202 Allanson Road
Mundelein, Illinois 60060
Toll-free: (888) 545-5222
Fax: (847) 566-4580
Website: http://www.aaaasf.org

American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
142 East Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone: (312) 202-8000
Fax: (312) 202-8200
Website: http://www.aoa-net.org

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
Telephone: (630) 792-5000
Fax: (630) 792-5005
Website: www.jcaho.org

Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities
2334 Heska Rd.,
Pickering, Ontario Canada L1V 2P9
Telephone: (905) 831-5804
Fax: (905) 831-7248
Website: http://www.caaasf.org

At Rhinoplasty4You.com, we are dedicated to helping patients seeking to improve the size and shape of their nose by providing resources that will aid them in their quest to find the right plastic surgeon. Our directory features cosmetic surgeons from across the United States, including NYC, Miami and LA plastic surgery specialists. In addition to the many featured nose surgeons, including renowned Los Angeles rhinoplasty and Brazilian butt lift surgeons, many of the surgeons also provide care for New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles tummy tuck patients, among other cosmetic surgery patients.