The popularity of plastic surgery is soaring - and more doctors are trying to meet the demand for this specialty that has become an integral part of mainstream medicine. As a result, it is important for those seeking plastic surgery to understand how to make the right choice when deciding on a physician. Any licensed physician can call himself or herself a cosmetic surgeon, so the importance of finding a properly trained, experienced and certified provider is paramount. Also, just because a doctor is board-certified does not mean that he or she is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). The ABPS is the only one of 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.

To be ABPS board-certified, a physician must meet these rigid requirements:

• Graduate from an accredited medical school
• Complete at least six years of surgical training with at least three years specifically in plastic surgery.
• Pass comprehensive oral and written exams
• Operate only in accredited medical facilities
• Fulfill continuing medical education requirements, including standards and innovations in patient safety

All physicians at Plastic Surgery Associates are board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in plastic and reconstructive surgery and bring more than 100 years of experience to their practice in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Cosmetic Surgery. They offer a complete array of services from non-surgical fillers and chemical peels to facelifts, scar revisions and liposuction. Each physician personally returns patients' calls. All four physicians are board-certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery and utilize an on-site accredited, state-licensed ambulatory surgical facility. Our doctors also hold operating privileges at many major medical facilities in the Lafayette area. They are physicians first and foremost.