Reader Question:

I read online that [ doctor's name omitted] is giving away breast implant surgery. I checked him through the American Board of Medical Specialists web site abms.org and it says he is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology. Is he a plastic surgeon? He says he is certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. Is it legal for non-plastic surgery board certified surgeons to do breast implants?

This is a complicated question. Board certification indicates the training that a doctor had after medical school. It appears that the doctor in which you are interested trained in Otolaryngology as a “Head and Neck” surgeon. You can see what that really means at Wikipedia.

One of your questions is how do you define a plastic surgeon. I went through formal residency training and certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This doctor did not. Many doctors who did not work in plastic surgery. Does that make them plastic surgeons? They would probably say yes.

Another question you asked is are non-plastic surgery board certified doctors permitted to do breast implant surgery. The answer is it depends upon where they do them. The doctor you describe would probably not be granted privileges to do breast implants in a hospital operating room. There would be a credentialing committee in the way. He probably does his surgery is an office-based surgery center that he may very well own.

My advice to people considering plastic surgery is to research your prospective surgeon carefully. The issue of board certification by an ABMS board is important to a hospital credentialing committee. The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery is not an ABMS board. More information for your evaluation is outlined on my site linked below.

Best Regards,

John Di Saia MD

Related:

Dr D on “Plastic Surgeon Credentials”