Surgeons have businesses to run, and to be successful, they must have patients. In order to have patients, they must be charming and professional. So, you definitely should not judge your surgeon by his outward character or the way he converses with you. It is important for you to know his educational background and certification as a surgeon. A board-certified surgeon is highly recommended. There are several boards that certify surgeons, but in the United States, the major board is the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). To be ABPS-certified, a surgeon must be a graduate of an accredited medical school, must pass comprehensive oral and written exams, and must complete a combination of at least five years of general surgery and plastic surgery residency training.
Be aware that even some good surgeons may be party to past or current malpractice suits, and you certainly don’t want to end up in the hands of one of them. So ask the surgeon about his practice history, or at least do some homework online to see if a preferred surgeon has any malpractice suits against him. For a few dollars and a few minutes, you can find entire records online about your physician. When you do finally meet with your preferred surgeon, ask to see his credentials if they are not visibly displayed. Surgeons who have a website will most often display their credentials on their website, and you can verify this if you need to through the ABPS.
