How can I check if a surgeon is board certified?

Check a surgeon's credential before the first consultation, because that check protects every stage that follows.

The direct answer

Use the public verification search of the board itself. The American Board of Plastic Surgery states on its verification page: Search below to verify if your surgeon is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).

Enter the name exactly as it appears on the consultation paperwork. Do the lookup yourself rather than relying on a wall certificate or a website badge.

If the surgeon names a different board

Boards differ, so ask which board issued the certificate and check on that board's own site. The American Board of Medical Specialties lists the American Board of Plastic Surgery as a member board. The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery maintains its own home page for surgeons who certify through it. For general patient guidance, the American College of Surgeons offers a resource page for patients and family.

The warning sign that changes the answer

A surgeon who cannot be found on the board named in the consultation is the signal to stop before deposits, scheduling or pre-operative testing. Resolve it in writing first. This stage comes before choosing, and it is the cheapest point at which to walk away.

The question that usually follows

After the credential checks out, readers in Fayetteville and DeWitt tend to ask what training sits behind the certificate and which procedures the surgeon performs most often. Bring both questions to the consultation.