What ABFPRS Certification Means
Your surgeon's certification by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery means that:
- You have found a "board-certified facial cosmetic surgeon"...
- Your surgeon has met the rigorous standards of the ABFPRS...
The ABFPRS Credential Signifies that Your Surgeon:
- Has completed an approved residency after medical school in one of two surgical specialties focusing on facial cosmetic surgery (otolaryngology- head and neck surgery or cosmetic surgery);
- Is double boarded, having earned prior certification in one of those specialties through the American board of Medical Specialties of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada;
- Has successfully completed a two day examination;
- Has submitted for peer-review an acceptable record of at least two years\' clinical experience, including operative reports if a minimum 100 facial cosmetic surgeries; and
- Holds proper licensure and subscribes to the ABFPRS Code of Ethics.
Board Certification is Just the Beginning
A patient choosing a surgeon for cosmetic surgery must take the responsibility for asking questions and choosing the right surgeon. Ask the surgeon for names of patients who have given the surgeon permission to provide their names to prospective patients. Check those patients\' experience. Make sure the surgeon you choose is one you can relate to and who answers you questions. Also, not every surgeon performs every cosmetic surgery procedure. Some focus on specific procedures. Make sure your surgeon is experienced in the procedure you want and regularly performs that procedure. No medical or surgical certification board, including ABFPRS, guarantees competency or results.
About the ABFPRS
Established in 1986 to improve the quality of medical and surgical treatment available to the public, the ABFPRS has set standards for the training and practice of facial cosmetic surgery and determines which candidates meet these standards through a rigorous program of examination and certification.
The ABFPRS has been found equivalent to primary boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties in every state that has set standards for such equivalence. Although not a primary ABMS board itself, the ABFPRS requires prior certification by one of the two ABMS boards that examine for expertise in facial cosmetic surgery (the American Board of Otolaryngology or the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery) of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada.
The ABFPRS is officially sponsored by national specialty societies, including the American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, the Canadian Academy of Facial Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery- together with numerous state and local specialty societies.
Headquartered in permanent offices in Alexandria, Virginia, and managed by a full-time staff, the ABFPRS is governed by a 16-member Board of Directors that includes faculty members from many of the most esteemed medical schools in North America.
Verification of Certification
To verify your surgeon's ABFPRS certification, contact our Board office.
ABFPRS
115C S. St. Asaph Street Alexandria,VA 22314
(703) 549-3223
Fax: (703) 549-3357
E-Mail: meharp@abfprs.org
URL: http://www.abfprs.org
The American Board of Otolaryngology
Serving the Specialty of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
What is the American Board of Otolaryngology?
The American Board of Otolaryngology (ABOto), founded in 1924, is the second oldest of the twenty-four recognized medical certifying organizations in the United States.
Founding members of the ABOto included representatives from various specialty societies. The ABOto currently has thirteen sponsoring specialty organizations.
The purpose of the ABOto is to assure the public that the doctors it certifies meet the highest standards of training and knowledge, and to progressively raise the quality of patient care in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.
The ABOto is a nonprofit corporation, and the directors and examiners, with the exception of the Executive Vice President and the Examination Chairman, receive no compensation.
The ABOto office is located in Houston, Texas and employs a staff of six.
What Does an Otolaryngologist Do?
A board certified otolaryngologist has been trained in medical and surgical skills to treat these areas of the head and neck:
Skin and Face
Including cancer, cosmetic surgery (face lift, skin resurfacing, eyelid surgery, forehead lift, cheek and chin augmentation, ear "pinning", etc.), and rehabilitation of facial paralysis.
Nose
Including allergy, sinus infection, breathing, tumors, cosmetic surgery and reconstruction, and disorders of taste and smell.
Ears
Including balance disorders, infections, tumors, repair of external ear deformities, and hearing testing and treatment by surgery or with hearing aids.
Mouth
Including fractures of the jaw and other facial bones, diseases of the mouth and repair of birth defects.
Throat and Voice Box
Including swallowing and breathing problems, infections, tumors, birth defects, speech and voice diagnostics and therapy.
Neck
Including tumors of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, saliva-producing glands, and other neck tumors.
How Did My Doctor Obtain Board Certification?
To become board certified, your doctor met the education and practice requirements listed below, and passes two examinations.
Education:
Your doctor hods an MD or DO degree from an approved medical school.
Your doctor completed 4-5 years of residency training after medical school in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or its equivalent.
Practice:
Your doctor demonstrated high moral, ethical and professional qualifications and holds a valid license to practice medicine
Examinations:
Your doctor passes a one-day written exam which tested knowledge and skill in identifying and treating hearing and balance problems, birth defects, infections, glandular disorders, tumors, allergies, accidental injuries, and cosmetic and reconstructive procedures of the face, head and neck.
Your doctor also passed an extensive oral exam which focused on diagnosis, treatment, emergencies and complications of the ear and hearing, the head and neck facial cosmetics and reconstructive operations, endoscopy, nasal and sinus disease and allergy.
What is the Value of Board Certification?
As a patient, you can be assured that your board certified otolaryngologist has been trained and tested in the medical knowledge and surgical skills needed to diagnose and treat diseases of the head and neck in patients of all ages.
