American Board of Cosmetic Surgery

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COSMETIC SURGERY:

The mission of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) is to serve the public by promoting the safe and ethical practice of the sub-specialty of Cosmetic Surgery. The ABCS is the only board devoted exclusively to Cosmetic Surgery. Diplomates of the ABCS shall demonstrate the highest standards of training, knowledge, and expertise, as determined by a process of peer review and standardized examination and certification.

The goals of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery are:

1)         To achieve and maintain the highest professional standards in Cosmetic Surgery.

2)         To establish a method for the qualification of specialists in Cosmetic Surgery and a certification system.

3)         To establish training standards.

4)         To cany out such goals and objectives in full compliance with all laws and regulations relating to equivalent surgical specialists.

DEFINITION OF COSMETIC SURGERY:

Cosmetic Surgery is a sub-specialty of medicine and surgery that uniquely restricts itself to the enhancement of appearance through surgical and medical techniques. It is specifically concerned with maintaining normal appearance, restoring it, or enhancing it beyond the average level toward some aesthetic ideal. Cosmetic Surgery is a multi-disciplinary and comprehensive approach directed to all areas of the head, neck and body.

Special skill and knowledge are essential and specialists in Cosmetic Surgery are competent in the anatomy, physiology, pathology and basic sciences. The educational profile of an ABCS board certified Cosmetic Surgeon is unique in that it begins with a fully trained and certified physician. Through continued post-residency education, training and experience, Cosmetic Surgery is taught and learned across traditional disciplinary boundaries. The sub-specialty fully incorporates the participation and knowledge from all contributing disciplines to attain a high level of skill and understanding. Contributing disciplines include dermatology, facial plastic surgery, general surgery, plastic surgery, otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, oculoplastic surgery, gynecological surgery, oral-maxillofacial surgery and others.

The ABCS board certified Cosmetic Surgeon offers specialized expertise in patient education and counseling, procedural skills, and the early recognition and treatment of complications. ABCS board certified Cosmetic Surgeons have enhanced the knowledge and training of fellow physicians and directly benefitted society through educational publications, scientific journals and in the development of safe and innovative techniques.

Competency in Cosmetic Surgery implies a combination of knowledge, surgical judgment, technical expertise and ethics in order to achieve the goal of providing aesthetic improvement.

HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COSMETIC SURGERY:

On March 26, 1979 the American Board of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery was incorporated in Delaware. The founders dedicated their practices to Cosmetic Surgery and recognized the interdisciplinary nature of this sub-specialty. They created the Board in the public interest to establish a standard of qualifications. A second corporation was formed in California on March 26, 1982 under the name of the Board of Cosmetic Surgery, Inc. The Delaware corporation and the California corporation subsequently assigned all their rights and obligations in 1990 to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, Inc., a corporation organized under the nonprofit law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery is an independent organization, recognized as a nonprofit entity by the Internal Revenue Service under Section 501C-6 of the Internal Revenue Code. The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery has an independent set of officers, board of trustees, and executive director who manage, maintain, and set policy for the Board.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIPLOMATES:

Becoming a Diplomate of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery is a significant professional achievement and honor. Diplomates must strive to represent the high ethical and moral standards of the ABCS and to support the Board activities for the advancement of the sub-specialty of Cosmetic Surgery. Diplomates agree to adhere to the ABCS and American Medical Association guidelines regarding the ethical practice of Cosmetic Surgery, including advertising and representations to the public and to practice the highest standard of patient care and safety at all times.

AMERICAN BOARD OF COSMETIC SURGERY

Certification Requirements

(Effective for the year 2011)

Areas of Certification and General Requirements

(1)           Applicants may apply for the following areas of certification:

* Body, Breast and Extremity Cosmetic Surgery

* Dermato logic Cosmetic Surgery

* Facial Cosmetic Surgery

* General Cosmetic Surgery ( Dr Porcaro's Area of Certification)

(2)           All candidates must meet the following criteria:

(A)           Applicant must complete a current application furnished in PDF format online or by the ABCS General Office (refer to application process and procedures).

(B)           Applicant must affirmatively state and prove valid hospital operating room privileges in current good standing. If the applicant does not have current hospital operating room privileges and performs all surgical procedures in an outpatient facility, the facility must be currently accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF), MEDICARE or a similar accrediting body approved by the state medical board having jurisdiction where the applicant performs surgery.

(C)           Applicant shall submit four (4) letters of recommendation, including but not limited to letters from: (a) the chairperson of his/her residency program, if available, or from the department chief of his/her current hospital facility; (b) his/her cosmetic surgery fellowship director, if applicable, or verification of completion of fellowship; (c) a diplomate of the ABCS; and (d) any other practicing physician.

(D)           Applicant shall submit proof of a current valid and unrestricted medical license in good standing in the jurisdiction where the applicant practices. Applicant must submit an explanation of any current or past disciplinary action by any state medical or osteopathic board.

(E)           Applicant shall submit current copy of his/her curriculum vitae, certified by applicant as being true and correct as of the date submitted.

(F)           Applicant shall affirm that he/she has no history of, nor are actions currently pending regarding any felony, crimes, convictions, or substance abuse.

(G)           Applicant shall furnish proof of valid Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification at the time of application (photocopy of valid card required).

(H)          Applicant must submit proof of at least 300 Category 1 CME credits in cosmetic surgery. These may be earned in one of the following ways:

(i) Completion of a cosmetic surgery fellowship in the areas sought in a program approved by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery satisfies this requirement if completed within three (3) years of the date of application.

(ii) In the event an Applicant applies for the examination more than three (3) years but within six (6) years of completing his/her approved fellowship training, the Applicant shall receive credit for 150 CME credits in Cosmetic Surgery (Category 1) and must average 50 CME Category I credits in Cosmetic Surgery per year for each year following completion of his/her fellowship to the date of application; and

(iii) In the event an Applicant applies for the examination more than six (6) years after completing their approved fellowship training, the Applicant must average 50 CME Category I credits in Cosmetic Surgery per year for the six (6) years preceding his/her date of application.

(I) Applicant shall provide a Physician Profile, ordered by the applicant from the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) or the Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS). Please note, it may take as long as 30 days to receive this form from the AMA, the AOA, or the FCVS.

(J) Applicant shall submit two (2) current passport type photographs.

(K) Applicant shall successfully complete a written examination covering general knowledge of cosmetic surgical procedures. The ABCS shall accept applications for the written component of the Annual Examination from:

(i) Applicants who meet the current requirements; and

(ii) American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) fellows who have successfully completed an approved AACS Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship Program.

Applicant must successfully complete an oral examination in the area of cosmetic surgery certification sought. The written and oral components must be successfully completed within three years of each other.

(L)           Applicant must furnish proof of prior board certification by:

(i)            one of the following boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists of the American Osteopathic Association (BOS), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC):

1) Dermatology

2) General Surgery (Dr Porcaro's initial Board Certification)

3) Obstetrics and Gynecology

4) Ophthalmology with completion of an American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc. (ASOPRS) approved Oculoptastic fellowship

5) Otolaryngology

6) Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

-OR-

(ii)           The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS) with M.D. degree.

(The above boards collectively referred to hereinafter as the “approved boards”)

 Training and Experience Requirements and Eligibility Via the EXPERIENCE ROUTE- (Dr Porcaro's Route of Certification)

Absent any action to the contrary by the Board of Trustees, the eligibility for certification via the Experience Route will expire in 2012. All Candidate Applications for certification via the Experience Route must be received on or before the application deadline of November 1, 2011.

(1)           The ABCS recognizes additional education and experience only in the area that is consistent with the candidate’s initial approved board certification. If a candidate seeks certification in an area inconsistent with his/her initial approved board certification, he/she will not be able to pursue certification under the experience route. PLEASE NOTE, the only means by which a candidate can apply for certification in an area that is not consistent with his/her initial approved board certification is by obtaining additional training and applying by the fellowship route OR by applying for a Certification of Added Qualification (CAQ).

Certification via the Experience Route requires initial certification by an approved board:

TRAINING/EXPERIENCE SUMMARY

(A)           Applicant must furnish proof of at least 300 CME credits in cosmetic surgery in the six years prior to application. All credits must be in Category 1.

(B)           Applicant must document a minimum of six (6) years of practice experience in cosmetic surgery.

(C)           Applicant must submit typed case logs documenting at least 1,000 cosmetic procedures within the last six (6) years. All cases must have been performed after the candidate completed his/her residency and fellowship training.

(D)           Applicant must submit typed case logs documenting at least 200 cosmetic procedures performed in the year prior to application.

(E)           Applicant’s case logs must illustrate a depth and breadth of cosmetic cases in the area of certification sought.

(F)           Applicant must submit typed operative reports, with clearly labeled publication quality before and after photographs securely attached to each operative report. Operative reports must illustrate a depth and breath of cosmetic cases in the area of certification sought as set forth in the Examination Candidate Application Booklet which is hereby incorporated by reference. Operative reports must meet the standards set forth in the Candidate Application Booklet furnished in PDF format online or by the General Office. The number of operative reports to be submitted depends upon the area of certification sought. General requires 120 reports; Facial requires 105 reports; Body, Breast & Extremity requires 100 reports; and Dermatologic requires 100 reports as set forth in the Guidelines for Applicants in the Examination Candidate Application Booklet.

(viii)       EXPERIENCE ROUTE CASE LOG REQUIREMENTS- (Dr Porcaro's Route of Certification)

The committee will evaluate each candidate’s case log based on the depth and breadth of the cases submitted. Candidates with extremely narrow practice scopes will not be approved. Candidate must submit a minimum number of operative reports with publication quality pre and post operative photographs securely attached. The minimum number of operative reports and photographs varies dependent upon the area of certification sought. Minimum number of operative reports and photographs for experience route candidates are set forth on the following pages.

GENERAL COSMETIC SURGERY-(Dr Porcaro's Case log requirements)- Applicant shall submit operative reports for twelve (12) of the eighteen (18) categories noted below subject to the review of the credential committee. Applicant shall submit a minimum often (10) operative reports for each of the twelve categories selected (total minimum of 120 operative reports). Five of the ten operative reports submitted for each category must contain publication quality pre and post operative photographs securely attached to the operative reports. (Total minimum of 60 operative reports with photos).

1.             Rhinoplasty

2.             Cosmetic Eyelid Procedures

a. Upper Blepharoplasty

b. Lower Blepharoplasty

c. Canthoplasty / Pexy (as a separate procedure)

d. Cosmetic Ptosis Repair (as a separate repair)

3.             Brow I Forehead Lift

4.             Face Lift (all types excluding thread lifts)

a. Traditional

b. Deep Plane

c. Subperiosteal

5.             Maxillofacial Cosmetic Surgery (augmentation with facial implants)

a. Augmentation

b. Osteotonies (Genioplasty, etc.)

6.             Cervicofacial Liposuction

7.             Fat Transfers

8.             Otoplasty or Cheloplasty

9.             Hair Loss

a. Hair Transplant

b. Scalp Flaps

c. Expanders

10.          Facial Skin Resurfacing (Ablative)

a. Laser Resurfacing

b. Dermabrasion

c. Chemical Peels

11.          Abdominoplasty

a. Complete

b. Partial

12.          Arm Lift or Thigh Lift

13.          Breast

a. Augmentation with implant

b. Mastopexy

c. Reduction

14.          Body Implants (other than breast)

a. Extremity

b. Gluteal

c. Pectoral

15.          Fat Transfer

16.          Labiaplasty

17.          Liposuction

a. Trunk

b. Upper and Lower Extremities

c. Face and Submental

18.          Varicose Vein Surgery