Does the patient always come first?

Why you should choose a board certified physician.

We’ve all heard the expression “The patient always comes first.”  There is a lot that goes into choosing a doctor, but one of the first things to consider is their experience and proven record of success and safety.  One sure fire way to be confident about these factors is to choose a board certified surgeon, or a double board certified surgeon like myself.

Why choose a board certified surgeon?  Many patients do not know, that in most states, a licensed physician may perform plastic surgery without being board-certified in plastic surgery.

Many physicians (and sometimes even non-physicians) call themselves “plastic surgeons”. American Board of Plastic Surgery is one of the 24 specialty boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). It is the only ABMS Board which certifies in the full spectrum of the entire specialty of plastic surgery.

By choosing a plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc., you can be assured that the doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon. To become certified, the doctor then must successfully complete comprehensive written and oral exams. Board Certification is a voluntary process.

To become a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the world’s premier organization representing plastic surgery, the surgeon has to be board certified, practice for a certain period of time (candidate period), regularly attend medical education courses, and adhere to a strict code of ethics. Membership in the ASPS is symbolized by the “circle of excellence”:

Recently, I had a 71 year old patient who was in for surgery.  Everything that morning began as expected .  The patient was checked in, the scrub nurse was ready to assist and the anesthesiologist was ready anesthetize the patient.  As we were going to proceed with the surgery, the patient’s blood pressure sky rocketed.   After careful consideration, I made the decision the surgery would just not be safe for my patient.   I put her first.  We woke her up, and more than likely saved her life.   Now I ask you, would your doctor put you first?