When looking for a plastic surgeon for your next cosmetic procedure, make sure you choose a board-certified provider. Receiving board-certification is an intensive process, requiring advanced training and in-depth testing to demonstrate expertise and experience in a medical specialty.
Why is board-certification so important? Consider the following benefits of this important qualification.
Plastic Surgery Specific Training
Did you know that any surgeon can perform plastic surgery, even those without specific plastic surgery training or expertise? Board-certification in plastic surgery demonstrates that a surgeon has sought and completed years of additional training, often under the mentorship of more experienced plastic surgeons.
Board-certified plastic surgeons have training in facelifts and breast augmentation, while a provider without this certification may offer the procedures without conducting these procedures on people of a range of ages, ethnicities and physical conditions. Board-certified plastic surgeons focus only on aesthetic procedures, honing their skills over the years in these limited surgeries.
How Much Training Does a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Have?
Board-certified plastic surgeons have extensive training in surgery, with a specific emphasis on plastic surgery. On average, a plastic surgeon has received 16 years of post-high school education and many years of intensive medical training.
Dr. Yegiyants has received advanced training including:
- Bachelor’s degrees in both microbiology and chemistry
- Master’s degree in biological sciences
- Medical training at the Albany Medical College
- A five-year vigorous training program in general surgery with Kaiser Permanente
- A three-year residency in plastic surgery at the University of Illinois, Chicago
- Prestigious fellowship in hand and microsurgery at the University of Miami
- Nine years of post-graduate surgical training
- Aesthetic training in visual arts
Board-certified surgeons are extensively trained and have demonstrated their mastery of a specific medical field through testing.
The Hallmarks of Board-Certification
Physicians must demonstrate their commitment to essential values and skills in order to qualify for board-certification. These include:
- Professionalism
- Patient care and procedural skills
- Medical and specialty knowledge
- Practice-based learning
- Communication skills
- Systems-based resources
Board-certification focuses on performance improvement by helping physicians compare their outcomes to others in the field, with a constant focus on improvement and growth. By evaluating and revising, these practitioners are constantly striving to create the ideal medical practice and provide patients with optimal results.
Many Different Types of Board-Certification
Board-certifications are provided by the American Board of Medical Specialties. This organization oversees 24 specialty member boards that set and maintain the standards for certification.
If you’re having problems with your eyes, work with a board-certified ophthalmologist. If you have a heart-related issues, choose a board-certified cardiologist. If you’re preparing for plastic surgery, find a board-certified plastic surgeon. Board-certifications are specialty-specific, and it is important to choose a provider with certification in the areas where you’re seeking medical care.
Dr. Yegiyants Is a Triple Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in Santa Barbara, CA
Board-certification isn’t a requirement to practice medicine. It is an achievement some surgeons seek to demonstrate a commitment to providing superior patient care. Dr. Yegiyants is one of the few female plastic surgeons in the United States to obtain this advanced certification from three medical boards. Dr. Yegiyants is board-certified by:
- American Board of Plastic Surgery
- American Board of Surgery
- Subspecialty Certification in Surgery of the Hand
For your next plastic surgery procedure, work with one of the top female plastic surgeons in Santa Barbara, Dr. Sara Yegiyants. Call 805-682-1731 to schedule a consultation.