Patient Resources

Choosing the right surgeon is one of the most important decisions you will make when considering cosmetic or reconstructive surgery. Training, credentials, and experience directly impact not only your results but also your safety.

At The Plastic Surgery Group, we are proud to have four board-certified plastic surgeons and one board-eligible plastic surgeon in the process of completing certification. Experience matters — and so does advanced training.

What Does Board-Certified Mean?

Board-certified plastic surgeons complete:

• Four years of medical school
• A minimum of five to six years of surgical training after medical school
• An accredited plastic surgery residency program
• Rigorous written and oral examinations
• Ongoing continuing education to maintain certification

Board certification through the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) signifies that a surgeon has met nationally recognized standards in training, ethics, safety, and surgical expertise.

This level of training includes not only cosmetic procedures, but reconstructive surgery, microsurgery, and complex surgical techniques — providing a depth of knowledge that extends far beyond aesthetics alone.

Plastic Surgeon vs. “Cosmetic” Surgeon

One of the most common misconceptions in aesthetic medicine is that “cosmetic surgeon” and “plastic surgeon” mean the same thing.

They do not.

Any licensed physician may legally refer to themselves as a “cosmetic surgeon,” regardless of their formal training background. A board-certified plastic surgeon, however, has completed years of specialized surgical education specifically focused on plastic and reconstructive surgery.

This distinction matters.