Prospective patients should seek a doctor who is both trained and experienced. Experience alone does not equal ability and there are plenty of doctors who have a lot of experience in doing the wrong thing many times. Plastic surgery is a very competitive profession and every doctor is trying to sell their skills. When choosing your plastic surgeon, the most important thing that you want to find out is that they are board certified and in what-all board certifications are not equal. Many doctors mislead patients in stating that they are board certified, there are many boards that require nothing close to the requirements that one has to fulfill in order to be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Genuine board certified doctors are credentialed by the American Board of Plastic Surgery; if you are a potential patient, please check that your surgeon's diploma contains these exact words in this exact order.

Another worthy credential is the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. To be in this society the doctor must be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in addition to other requirements.

Remember, exact wording matters and if your doctor is a member of ASAPS, they are guaranteed to be board-certified specialists in the field of cosmetic surgery.