The American Society of Plastic Surgeons

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the world, with approximatley 6,500 members. Founded in l93l, the society is composed of board-certified plastic surgeons who perform cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

The mission of the ASPS is to advance quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery. The society is an advocate of patient safety, and encourages its members to operate in surgical facilities that have passed rigorous external review of equipment and staffing. The ASPS also works in concert with the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation (PSEF), founded in 1948, which supports research and educational programs for plastic surgeons.

The ASPS publishes numerous informational brochures and maintains this web site to provide public education about plastic surgery. This site, launched in 1996, includes news on the latest advances and techniques to details of specific surgical procedures, including how to prepare for surgery, the types of anesthesia used and how long recovery takes. Look for answers to the most frequently asked questions about plastic surgery and statistics, including the average costs of various procedures.

Member Qualifications

All members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The ABPS is the only one of the 24 boards approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties that certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body.

ABPS board-certified physicians must meet the following requirements:

• Graduate from an accredited medical school
• Complete a combination of at least five years of general surgery and plastic surgery residency training
• Pass comprehensive oral and written exams
• Besides certification, membership in ASPS requires a plastic surgeon to regularly attend continuing medical education courses and to adhere to a strict code of ethics.

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