How much attention should I pay to whether the plastic surgeon I am considering is board certified or not?
Whether you have been considering some sort of cosmetic or plastic surgery for some time or looking at yourself on Zoom has caused you to start thinking it might be a good time for eyelift surgery, it can be a little unnerving trying to find a surgeon you can trust. Believe it or not, that anxiety about finding the right surgeon is a good thing! It is the most important step in the entire process and the last thing you want to take lightly.
Okay, so once you recognize the importance of choosing the best plastic surgeon available, how do you do that? There are lists of things to take into account when making this decision. Education and experience are obvious considerations and, of course, extremely important. You will want to know that the facility where the procedure is done is fully accredited in terms of safety, equipment, and staff. Accreditations by the following organizations require an extremely low mortality rate and those serious complications fall below .05%:
- JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations)
- AAAHC (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care)
- AAAASF (American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities)
Other considerations on the list include feeling comfortable with the surgeon, seeing before and after photos of patients who have had the specific procedure that you are wanting to have, and how efficient and friendly the staff members are. Personal recommendations, if available, from family, friends, and others you know can be very helpful.
All of these are important but the one requirement that you will most often find at the top of these lists is that the surgeon is “board-certified”. This means that the members have passed written and oral examinations demonstrating their expertise and have a required number of years of experience. Professional certification boards and member societies also maintain high ethical standards and require continuing education.
Dr. Brian D. Cohen Is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
You can feel confident when making an appointment with New York plastic surgeon, Dr. Brian D. Cohen. He is a Director and Attending Physician in the Plastic Surgery Division of Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, he trains future generations of plastic surgery residents and fellows, and he is an Attending Physician for the Northwell Health System and NYU Winthrop. His professional certifications and memberships include:
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- American Board of Plastic Surgery
- Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Journal, Manuscript Reviewer
- Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons
- New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Medical Society of the State of New York
The American Board of Plastic Surgery has a very useful checklist that will not only guide you in what to look for when choosing a surgeon but will also give you an idea of what to expect when you go for your initial consultation. The more you know, the more comfortable you will be with the process and the greater the likelihood of a successful outcome that meets your expectations.
Dr. Brian D. Cohen is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with extensive training in cosmetic/reconstructive plastic surgery and has had years of experience performing a wide array of cosmetic surgery procedures, specializing in procedures of the face, eyes, nose, breast and body and is known for his exemplary and compassionate care by his patients. Knowing that Dr. Cohen has been selected by his peers in Super Doctors for 8 years in a row in 2020 gives you the confidence that he is highly respected for his performance in his specialty.
Information on locations and office hours for Cohen Plastic Surgery can be found by clicking here.