Who can I talk to and question about my goals and concerns?
When deciding to have any procedure done it is vital to have quality face-to-face time with the surgeon who will be carrying out the treatment. At 111 Harley Street we make sure you get this time.
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What will happen at my first consultation and what do I need to do?
It might be helpful for you to bring the following with you to your initial consultation: the name and telephone number of your primary doctor, a list of specific questions you may have, and photographs.
After discussing your goals and the possible options, surgical and non-surgical, your surgeon will formulate a personalised plan. He/she will also discuss the proposed procedure(s) in detail, recommended anaesthesia, possible risks and complications and estimated healing time.
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How should I prepare for my surgery?
Your surgeon will provide you with specific guidelines about medications and diet. You may be advised to get plenty of rest and avoid aspirin or aspirin products for at least two weeks before surgery. Also, please refrain from tobacco use, since smoking causes constriction of the blood vessels, especially those in your face, and may interfere with the healing process.
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How long will I take to recover?
Depending on the type of surgery you have and your own healing process, the surgeon will explain what sort of recovery you should expect. Your surgeon will inform you how long to refrain from activities depending on the surgery you have.
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How many times will I need to see the surgeon before and after surgery?
Patients usually see their surgeon at least twice before surgery and depending on the procedure, three to six times following surgery. After your procedure, you see your surgeon in five to seven days, and then weekly for several weeks. There may also be follow-up visits at six and twelve months.
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Are there risks involved with my procedure?
All surgery carries potential risks. Your surgeon will discuss the specific risks and/or complications of your proposed surgery with you.
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How much will it cost?
Your patient co-ordinator will discuss costs and payment before you commit to a procedure or treatment. Cost will include the facility, surgeon and nurses and all aftercare.
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Should I be nervous?
Relax. It is perfectly natural to feel worried and unsure at times. We are here to help accomplish your dreams and we will assist you through every step of the way. Peace of mind is assured knowing that there will be support from your surgeon and nurses, face to face and over the phone before and after surgery.
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How does a doctor become Board Certified?
Why should I choose a doctor who is Board Certified by ABPS?
By choosing a plastic surgeon who is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc., you can be assured that the doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Medical Education or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. This includes a minimum of five years of residency training in all areas of surgery, including at least two years devoted entirely to plastic surgery. Certification is a voluntary process a surgeon seeks after this training. To become certified, the doctor then must pass comprehensive written and oral exams.
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Why is The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc. different from other plastic surgery (or cosmetic surgery) Boards?
ABPS is one of the 24 specialty boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). It is the only ABMS board which certifies in the full spectrum of the specialty of plastic surgery of the entire body. That is, plastic and reconstructive surgery of the head and neck, trunk and extremities.
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What is the difference between membership in a society, association, academy and accreditation/certification?
The ABPS Diplomate is a certified physician who has met the requirements outlined above. The mission of The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc. is to promote safe, ethical, efficacious plastic surgery to the public by maintaining high standards for the education, examination, certification and maintenance of certification of plastic surgeons as specialists and subspecialties.
Societies are professional membership associations. The specific society, association or academy should be contacted for specific membership requirements and mission.
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Define licensure, certification and accreditation.
Licensure is designed as minimum standard necessary to practice medicine. It is a public function, administered by the states. The standards are established through a public process and all actions taken – both in granting a license and in restricting or withdrawing a license – are matters of public record. Licensure is not specialty specific and permits an individual to provide to the public any medical or surgical service he/she desires.
Certification by a specialty Board attests to 1) completion of a prescribed set of education and training requirements in a specialty of medicine beyond the minimum requirements for licensure, and 2) passage of examinations that test the fund of knowledge in that specialty. All specialties now also require maintenance of certification (MOC), which requires completion of specified continuing education. Assessment of performance in practice and successful completion of a further examination testing the fund of knowledge in that specialty are also required for MOC. Many health care organizations and health plans now require certification in order to provide services in the relevant specialty area. Board-certified physicians govern specialty Boards in that specialty.
Accreditation is awarded to licensed physicians who have conducted their professional activities in accordance with standards set to define quality in professional practice. These standards include ethical behavior; absence of disciplinary actions by hospitals, licensing agencies, or financing programs; participation in peer review; participation in clinical self-assessment; operation of a safe, patient-centered practice that meets criteria for quality; and participation in measurement of clinical performance and patient care results, including patient satisfaction. Accreditation is not specialty specific. Detailed reports on accreditation are provided to health care organizations and health plans for their use in evaluating physicians. These reports include information on the physician’s license status and specialty board certification. The American Medical Accreditation Program is governed by a 17 member Board that includes a majority of physicians, as well as representation from consumers, employers, HCFA, managed care plans, voluntary health organizations and others.
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What is the Meaning of Board Certification?
An Overview of Certification.
The certification process is designed to assure the public that a certified medical specialist has successfully completed an approved educational program and an evaluation, including an examination process designed to assess the knowledge, experience and skills requisite to the provision of high quality patient care in that specialty.
American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is the umbrella organization for 24 approved specialty certifying boards. To be certified as a specialist by one of these recognized boards, a physician must complete certain requirements. The requirements for each specialty are determined by the specialty board, but the requirements generally include:
pletion of a course of study leading to the M.D. or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) degree from a recognized school of medicine or school of osteopathy.
Completion of required training in an accredited residency program designed to train specialists in the discipline.
Many specialty boards require assessments and documentation of individual performance from the residency training director, or from the chief of service in the hospital where the specialist has practiced.
All ABMS Member Boards require that a person seeking certification have an unrestricted license to practice medicine in order to take the certification examination.
Each candidate for certification must pass examinations given by the specialty board. Candidates who have passed the exams and other requirements are then given the status of “Diplomate” and are certified as specialists. A similar process is followed for specialists who want to become subspecialists.
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How do I choose a good Plastic Surgeon and what type of questions should I be asking my doctor?
Helpful questions to ask of the prospective surgeon include:
-Is the doctor Board Certified and is that specialty area appropriate to the procedure you are considering?
-What qualifications/training does the physician have to perform the procedure in question?
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What is the difference between membership in a society, association, academy and accreditation/certification?
The ABPS Diplomate is a certified physician who has met the requirements outlined above. The mission of The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc. is to promote safe, ethical, efficacious plastic surgery to the public by maintaining high standards for the education, examination, certification and maintenance of certification of plastic surgeons as specialists and subspecialties.
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