If you’re considering plastic surgery in Jackson or Flowood, MS, one of the most important questions you can ask is also one of the simplest: Are you board-certified in plastic surgery? At Brantley Operative Aesthetics, Dr. Shelby Brantley believes that every patient deserves to make informed decisions about their care, and understanding what board certification means and why it matters is one of the most powerful tools you have as a consumer.
The aesthetic industry is larger and more accessible than ever, which means there are more options to choose from. You have a choice who you entrust your appearance and health to, and not every provider offering cosmetic procedures has the training, credentials, or oversight necessary to deliver safe, beautiful results every time. Board certification exists to help you distinguish between providers who have met the highest standards of surgical training and ethical practices and those who have not.
Here, Dr. Brantley lays out what it means to be board certified, how to find a board-certified plastic surgeon, and why it matters.
What Does “Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon” Actually Mean?
When a plastic surgeon is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), it means they have completed one of the most rigorous credentialing processes in all of medicine. The ABPS is the only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) that certifies surgeons in plastic surgery of the face and body.
To earn this designation, a surgeon must:
- Graduate from an accredited medical school.
- Complete a minimum of six years of surgical training, including at least three years of plastic surgery residency.
- Pass comprehensive written and oral examinations that test their knowledge, surgical judgment, and ability to manage complications.
Board certification represents years of dedicated study, supervised clinical experience, and an ongoing commitment to excellence that extends throughout a surgeon’s entire career. In addition to the basic qualifications, board-certification means that your surgeon:
- Commits to ongoing continuing medical education (CME), with a minimum of 150 CME credits required during each consecutive three-year period to maintain certification.
- Adheres to strict ethical standards established by the ABPS, including honesty in patient communication, accurate advertising, and prioritization of patient safety.
- Typically holds hospital admitting privileges, meaning their credentials, training, and safety record have been independently verified by a hospital credentialing committee.
- Eligible for membership in prestigious professional organizations that require ABPS certification, such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS).
In short, board certification is not a one-time achievement. It’s a career-long commitment to the highest standards of training, safety, ethics, and continuing education in plastic surgery.
Why Should Board Certification Matter to You?
Not only do you not want to take any chances when you’re investing so heavily in your appearance, but you should never take any chances when it comes to your health. Board certification matters because plastic surgery is complex surgery with real risks. No matter which procedure you are interested in, you are entrusting your health, safety, and appearance to the surgeon of your choice. Board certification gives you confidence that your surgeon has been trained specifically in both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, understands the complexities of human anatomy, and knows how to manage complications if they arise.
A board-certified plastic surgeon has demonstrated competence in surgical planning, precision in the operating room, and the clinical judgment necessary to prioritize your safety at every stage, from your initial consultation through your recovery. This is especially important for complex procedures that require an understanding of how multiple tissue layers interact and how the body heals over time.
Not All “Board-Certified” Claims Are Equal
This is where it gets tricky, and it’s where many patients are understandably confused. In most states, any licensed physician can legally perform cosmetic procedures, regardless of their training background. A doctor who trained in emergency medicine, family practice, or another unrelated specialty can market cosmetic services and even call themselves a “cosmetic surgeon” without having completed a single day of accredited plastic surgery training.
Some of these providers may hold board certifications, but from boards that are not recognized by the ABMS. These alternative certifications may have significantly less rigorous training requirements, fewer examinations, and lower standards for ongoing education. When a provider says they are “board-certified,” the critical follow-up question is: certified by which board?
The American Board of Plastic Surgery is the only ABMS-recognized board for plastic surgery. When you see that a surgeon holds ABPS certification, you know they have met a nationally recognized standard of training, testing, and ethical practice that is specifically designed to protect patients.
What Additional Credentials Should You Look For?
Beyond board certification itself, there are several professional memberships and affiliations that can give you additional confidence in your surgeon’s qualifications, including:
- Membership in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) requires that surgeons be certified by the ABPS, practice in accredited facilities, and follow strict standards of safety and ethics.
- The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) is another prestigious organization that requires ABPS board certification and focuses specifically on cosmetic surgery excellence.
- The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is one of the most respected surgical organizations in the world and holds its members to rigorous standards of professional competence and ethical conduct.
Hospital admitting privileges are another important indicator. Surgeons who hold these privileges have been vetted by a hospital’s credentialing committee, which independently verifies their training, competence, and safety record. If a surgeon does not have hospital privileges to perform the same procedures they offer in a private office or surgical center, that should raise a red flag.
How Do You Verify a Surgeon’s Board Certification?
Whether or not your surgeon is board-certified is public information you can find online before you schedule a consultation. Verifying a surgeon’s credentials is simple and takes only a few minutes. The ABPS website offers a searchable database where you can confirm whether a specific surgeon holds current board certification in plastic surgery. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons also provides a “Find a Surgeon” tool that lists ASPS member surgeons, all of whom are required to hold ABPS certification.
How to verify a plastic surgeon’s board certification:
Verification takes less than five minutes and requires only the surgeon’s name. You should consider this tool while scheduling your surgical consultations.
Step 1
Visit certificationmatters.org, the ABMS’s public verification tool, or go directly to the ABPS search tool.
Step 2
Search by name or state: Enter the surgeon’s full name and state. Results show current certification status and any specialty certifications.
Step 3
Confirm the right board: Look specifically for “American Board of Plastic Surgery.” Other boards, even with similar names, are not necessarily equivalent.
Step 4
Check hospital privileges: Ask whether the surgeon has privileges to perform this procedure at an accredited hospital, another layer of vetting.
What Questions Should You Ask During Your Consultation?
Walking into a plastic surgery consultation armed with the right questions is one of the best things you can do for yourself. In addition to asking about board certification, consider asking your surgeon the following:
- Where did you complete your plastic surgery residency?
- Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
- Do you hold hospital admitting privileges for the procedure I’m considering?
- How many times have you performed this specific procedure?
- What complications have you encountered, and how do you manage them?
- Where will my surgery be performed, and is the facility accredited?
- Can I see before-and-after photos of patients who have had the same procedure?
A board-certified plastic surgeon will be happy to address each of these questions thoroughly and honestly. The consultation should feel like a conversation, not a sales pitch, and you should leave feeling informed, respected, and confident in your surgeon’s abilities.
Want to Meet a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon for Yourself? Schedule Your Consultation in Flowood, MS
If you’re researching plastic surgery and want to learn more about what board certification means for your safety and your results, Dr. Brantley and the team at BOA are here to help. Your consultation is an opportunity to ask questions, discuss your goals, and experience firsthand the difference that a board-certified plastic surgeon makes.
Contact us at (601) 387-9005 or request your consultation online today. The search for a plastic surgeon can feel daunting, but when you know what to look for, the task becomes a lot simpler.