The Importance of Board Certification

Many factors go into your choice of a cosmetic surgeon in New Jersey or Philadelphia to perform breast augmentation, liposuction, or facelift, and naturally you want to find the surgeon who will give you superior results. While talking with your friends and family about their cosmetic procedures and researching physicians on the Internet, also take the time to educate yourself about how to judge the background of a prospective surgeon. It is an unfortunate fact that cosmetic surgeons are not required to obtain special training or certification within the field of plastic surgery before picking up the scalpel, meaning that gynecologists, dermatologists, or even family practitioners may offer to perform your cosmetic procedure, often with widely varying results.

Learn the basics of surgeon qualifications so that you can choose a physician who knows how to achieve artistic results while protecting your health. Dr. Sorokin, a board-certified plastic surgery specialist at Delaware Valley Plastic Surgery, is happy to meet with you to tell you more about his experience, training, and qualifications. Call 856.528.9563 or set up an appointment online for a consultation at our office, just a short drive from many towns, including Cherry Hill, Mt. Laurel, Berlin, and Medford, New Jersey.

Board Certification: Not All Boards Are Created Equal

When researching cosmetic surgeons in New Jersey, one of the most confusing phrases you'll come across is "board certification." It sounds like a prestigious mark of distinction, right? But the importance of a surgeon's board certification entirely depends on which board did the certifying. A "board" is a group of physicians who evaluate the training and abilities of other doctors. The premier plastic surgery certification board is the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), which requires a surgeon to have a four year college degree, a degree from an accredited medical school, a minimum of five years in surgical internship and residency, at least two years specializing in plastic surgery. In addition, an ABPS-certified surgeon must have passed extensive oral and written exams and peer reviews. ABPS is the only "head to toe" plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, an umbrella organization that oversees an elite group of 24 specialty boards in the medical field.

Dr. Sorokin takes great pride in being board-certified by the ABPS. Many other Philadelphia and New Jersey cosmetic surgeons do not offer such a credential, having been certified by local boards or second or third tier national boards, a large number of which were founded by physicians that could not themselves meet the ABPS standards. These boards generally do not require the same training and exams as the ABPS. Certainly, there are surgeons without ABPS certification who will be able to give you a good surgical result. But why take the risk? Dr. Sorokin was trained at one of the most rigorous training programs in the country and proudly maintains his ABPS certification.

When you talk with prospective surgeons, be sure to get the names of the boards that have certified them, and remember that ABPS certification is the clearest way to tell that a physician is well-trained in plastic surgery methods. Surgeons who have not been certified by the ABPS may have received certification from such boards as:

• The American Association for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
• The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery
• The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery

These boards are simply not as highly esteemed in the cosmetic surgery community as the ABPS.

Cosmetic Surgeon or Plastic Surgeon?

You may be surprised to learn that the terms "cosmetic surgeon" and "plastic surgeon" are not interchangeable. Any doctor who performs procedures to improve patient appearance is a cosmetic surgeon. But a plastic surgeon is a physician who has completed a residency to gain education and training specifically in plastic surgery. Plastic surgeons may choose to call themselves cosmetic surgeons, but cosmetic surgeons should not be referring to themselves as plastic surgeons.

Dr. Sorokin, an ABPS-certified plastic surgeon, frequently sees unhappy patients who were treated by cosmetic surgeons in New Jersey and Philadelphia. Sometimes these patients went to a family practice doctor who promised laser treatments or injectables that would smooth their skin or fix wrinkles. The problem is that family practitioners are seldom trained in cosmetic techniques to make people look better. Other patients turned to a dermatologist or other specialist to perform breast augmentation, with results that are all over the map. Dr. Sorokin has performed corrective breast surgery for patients of some of Philadelphia's most famous breast surgeons, who do not hold ABPS certification.

Learn more about the importance of ABPS certification: schedule a consultation today with Dr. Sorokin at our office in Marlton, New Jersey, or call us at 856.528.9563 to set up an appointment.