A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in Sarasota, FL

If you’re thinking about having plastic surgery, you’ve probably heard about the importance of working with a board certified plastic surgeon. But, what does that really mean? In essence, you can feel confident that a board certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Alissa M. Shulman of Sovereign Plastic Surgery in Sarasota, FL, has met numerous stringent requirements in order to become certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (which is the only Board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties that certifies plastic surgeons). These requirements include completing a minimum of three years of general surgery training and two years of plastic surgery training (Dr. Shulman has completed several additional years of training), passing comprehensive written and oral examinations, and adhering to a strict code of medical ethics.

It’s also important to understand the difference between a board certified plastic surgeon and a board certified cosmetic surgeon. This is often a point of confusion among the general public, mainly because many plastic surgeons focus their practice on cosmetic surgery. To clarify, plastic surgery has two distinct branches:

• Cosmetic surgery, the primary goal of which is to improve a patient’s aesthetic appearance
• Reconstructive surgery, the primary goal of which is to improve a patient’s function (although it can include aesthetic enhancement as well)

However, it’s important to keep in mind that a board certified cosmetic surgeon could actually have any medical specialty. For instance, he or she could be a gynecologist, dermatologist, internist, or general surgeon who simply took a short weekend course on a plastic surgery topic, such as liposuction or breast implants. This does not require the same level of devotion to the art and practice of plastic surgery as that required of a board certified plastic surgeon. In fact, several breast augmentation surgeons in the Sarasota, Florida, area are not board certified plastic surgeons, even though many people (including some of their patients) believe that they are.

When meeting with a surgeon who purports to be a cosmetic surgeon, or even a board certified surgeon, be sure to ask about the certifying Board. You’ll want to make sure that you are working with a plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. A surgeon’s certification from any other Board is simply not meaningful with respect to plastic surgery.

If you have questions or would like to meet with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Alissa M. Shulman, you are welcome to contact Sovereign Plastic Surgery to schedule a personal consultation at her office in Sarasota, FL.