When you contact or visit the offices of Dr. Steven Warnock, one area you don’t have to be concerned about at all is credentials. Dr. Warnock is fully board certified, a vital term in the plastic surgery industry, with extensive experience and a high reputation in numerous areas of cosmetic surgery.
Whether you’re interested in body sculpting services like a mommy makeover or tummy tuck, breast augmentation or even facial surgery options, it’s vital to ensure these procedures are being performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. What exactly does this term mean, and what sort of training goes into obtaining American Board of Plastic Surgeons (abbreviated ABPS, part of the American Board of Medical Specialties) board certification? Here’s a primer.
Extensive, Detailed Process
For starters, the standard process for obtaining board certification is extremely extensive – it’s impossible for someone to obtain this certification in their down time, for instance. One must first attend and graduate an accredited medical school where they receive generalized training, then move on to an approved surgical program that generally takes five years.
As part of this five-year process, potential surgeons will go through at least two years of a residency (more on this below), plus will be required to pass several comprehensive oral and written exams to move on. Oral exams are particularly grueling, requiring surgeons to present their own cases from the past year and answer detailed, difficult questions from a field of plastic surgeons who will assess the work.
Residency and Practical Experience
We mentioned residency above, and it’s one of the most important parts of this process because it gives surgeons the practical experience they need before entering the field on their own. During this residency, surgeons receive training from other board-certified surgeons, plus learn new techniques and get significant experience. When you receive cosmetic services from a board-certified plastic surgeon, you can always rest easy knowing they’ve gone through hundreds of hours of hands-on training and are fully prepared for your procedure.
Continuing Education
Finally, it’s vital to note that training for board-certified plastic surgeons never truly ends. Board-certified surgeons must earn at least 150 credits of Continuing Medical Education (CME) within a given three-year period, and also must participate in what’s known as a Maintenance of Certification Program offered through the ABPS. Through this training, surgeons ensure they’re never out of practice for recent techniques developed in the field, plus learn additional ways to make your procedures safer and more effective for the high-quality results you desire.
For more on why board certification is so important when selecting your plastic surgeon, or to learn about any of the other factors you should consider or any of our quality services, speak to the staff at the offices of Dr. Steven Warnock today.