Membership in a professional society means that a surgeon has agreed to maintain certain professional standards. Many physicians belong to one and sometimes to several societies. Even though the AMA is the most well known physician organization, specialists tend to be more active in societies devoted to their field of interest. Although professional organization names may be confusing or the information overwhelming, there really is a simple rule to follow when evaluating society memberships of a cosmetic surgeon: Place the most value on a surgeon’s membership in professional organizations that require a certification by an ABMS-recognized Board that makes sense for the body part and the procedure that you are considering.

Plastic Surgeons

The ASPS is the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the world, with more than 5,000 member surgeons, and represents 94 percent of the board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States and Canada. Membership requires board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada; regular participation in continuing education activities; maintenance of a strict code of ethics; and agreement by the surgeon to perform all surgeries requiring anything more than minor local anesthesia in an accredited, licensed, or Medicareapproved facility. Plastic surgeons may also belong to the ASAPS, which has similar membership requirements. Because these wellestablished organizations now require their members to operate in accredited facilities, a surgeon’s membership in one or both of them implies that he or she is committed to a higher standard of care. Read the rest of this entry »