What it means to be a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

What does it mean when your plastic surgeon is board certified?  It means a lot, actually.  The American Board of Plastic Surgery requires plastic surgeons to have completed an accredited training program in plastic surgery, to pass a 400 question written exam, to demonstrate the safe practice of plastic surgery, and to pass a very difficult oral exam in order to become certified.  Once a plastic surgeon is board certified, he or she is also now required to maintain certification by passing tests and submitting case reports every 10 years.  This ensures continuing education and safe practices among those board certified.  If you are unsure whether or not your plastic surgeon is board certified, you can visit www.abplsurg.org/ to check.  As a board certifed plastic surgeon in Baltimore, I am proud to display the American Board of Plastic Surgery Maintencance of Certification logo on my website.  Becoming board certified was a major accomplishment in my career, and chances are it means just as much to any plastic surgeon who went through the process of becoming board certifed by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.