When choosing to have breast surgery, one of the most important decisions a patient must make is which breast surgeon they will choose to perform their breast surgery. Unfortunately, there are many different medical societies and associations that breast surgeons can belong to.

When researching breast surgeons, many of these societies or associations can look and sound very similar. The fact is, however, there is only one board that is part of the American Board of Medical Specialties.

The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is the only medical board that certifies plastic surgeons. A certification from the ABPS shows that the breast surgeon has demonstrated their knowledge, as well as completed the necessary amount of education to be certified by the medical board.

"Both Dr. Fardo and I hold certifications in plastic surgery," says Dr. Bauer at the Swam Plastic Surgery Center in Atlanta, Georgia. "I am also certified in general and reconstructive surgery."

In order to be certified by the ABPS, a breast surgeon must meet various requirements for the ABPS, including attaining a medical degree, which can entail over 8 years of education. The breast surgeon must usually perform at least 5 years of residency training at a hospital, which is usually performed as three years of general surgery, and two years of plastic surgery. Finally, the breast surgeon must practice breast surgery independently for at least two additional years.

An ABPS certification also requires that the breast surgeon complete an examination of their specialty. The results of their examination will demonstrate the knowledge and quality of the breast surgeon; this, combined with the other requirements will determine if they will be certified or not.

Also, an ABPS certification is not something that a breast surgeon can receive and then hold indefinitely. After a breast surgeon has been certified, they must be re-certified every so often to demonstrate that they are knowledgeable about all of the latest advancements in their field.

There are many aspects of breast surgery that must be considered when choosing if breast surgery is the right thing to do. Choosing a breast surgeon can be difficult, but one of the things a patient should always make sure of, is that they are ABPS certified.