Why ABPS Board Certification Is Important
The term “board certified” is used broadly; therefore, it is important to understand that not all board certifications are the same. The only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties for cosmetic surgery is the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).
Unfortunately, not all doctors who perform cosmetic surgery of the face—such as facelifts, neck lifts, rhinoplasty, and eyelid surgery—are board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and may not have the same extensive training. Many surgeons who call themselves board-certified in other areas, such as “board-certified facial plastic surgeons,” are not board-certified plastic surgeons by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Not all surgeons have equal skills, training, and specialties. So, how can you choose the best surgeon for plastic or reconstructive surgery? For any operation—especially one that alters your appearance—you want to place your trust in the best surgeon available. Unfortunately, not all doctors who perform aesthetic enhancements have extensive training, remain up to date on the latest techniques and technologies, or have the experience to deliver optimal results.
If you are like most patients considering a cosmetic improvement, you probably begin by asking friends and family who they may have chosen for such work in the past. Next, you review surgeons’ websites and schedule a consultation with the ones that appeal to you most.
But when contemplating invasive surgery, you should not stop there. Instead, you should investigate your surgeon’s background and research the claims they may make about their training and experience.
To learn more about why Dr. Jason Cooper is a strong choice for your cosmetic surgery in South Florida, request a consultation at one of his convenient locations in Jupiter or Palm Beach.
Understanding Surgical Credentials
Board certifications are a benchmark for physicians. However, each organization that certifies physicians is autonomous and has its own standards and guidelines. Therefore, to ensure your surgeon’s accreditation carries sufficient weight in terms of training, continuing education, and experience, you should understand the differences.
Some surgeons advertise credentials as board certified by organizations not approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). The ABMS oversees specific physician specialty boards and requires them to develop and maintain rigorous standards. The only board it recognizes for cosmetic surgery is the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Furthermore, just because a surgeon is board-certified by an ABMS-approved organization does not necessarily mean they are the most qualified for cosmetic surgery. For example, a board-certified gynecologist would not typically be the best option for a facelift, nor would a board-certified oral surgeon necessarily be the most qualified to perform a tummy tuck.
What Is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon?
To earn board certification, a plastic surgeon must complete the most rigorous training in medicine. They must also stay current with innovations and advancements in plastic and reconstructive surgery through continuing education to maintain their certification. In addition, they are held to the highest ethical standards.
The American Board of Plastic Surgery exists to promote ethical, safe, and effective plastic surgery for patients by maintaining these rigorous standards. These certification requirements include education, examination, and ongoing training of plastic surgeons as specialists in their field.
However, others who perform cosmetic surgery cannot call themselves board-certified plastic surgeons. That is why certain practitioners, such as cosmetic surgeons, do not fall under the ABMS umbrella. Others, such as board-certified dermatologists or oral surgeons, may hold certifications from ABMS-approved member boards, but their specialty training does not specifically include plastic, reconstructive, or cosmetic surgery.
Choose Wisely
For your convenience, we have included boards that offer certifications but have NOT earned ABMS approval. Providers with these certifications are NOT Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons by The American Board of Plastic Surgery and, in most cases, have many fewer years of surgical training:
- The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery
- The American Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
- The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- The American Board of Dermatologic Surgery
- The American Board of Cosmetic Medicine
- The American Board of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
- The American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine
Why the ABPS?
The American Board of Plastic Surgery is one of the 24 member boards of the ABMS. It is the only board that ensures your physician has completed a four-year college degree, graduated from an accredited medical school, and completed an accredited plastic surgery residency.
What Is the ASPS?
Founded in 1931, the American Society of Plastic Surgery is the largest plastic surgery organization worldwide. Board-certified plastic surgeons are highly trained in:
- Reconstructive surgery
- Cosmetic procedures
- Hand surgery
- Burn wounds
- Tumor removal
- Wound trauma
- Cancer reconstruction
- Correction of acquired deformities and birth defects
- Microsurgery
- Maxillofacial surgery
- Maxillofacial craniofacial surgery
The ASPS guarantees your surgeon:
- Accumulated at least six years of surgical training and experience, with at least three years in plastic surgery
- Operates only in accredited medical facilities
- Adheres to strict ethical standards
- Completes continuing medical education requirements, including innovations and standards in patient safety
- Is your partner in optimal medical care
Why Dr. Jason Cooper?
Dr. Jason Cooper is a well-established, highly experienced, American Board of Plastic Surgery–board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience and expertise in plastic surgery of the face and breast. Dr. Cooper’s facelift and neck lift surgery volume is consistently in the top 1% of all plastic surgeons in the United States. His detail-oriented, results-driven philosophy and natural aesthetic lead to surgical outcomes that are natural, predictable, and safe. In addition to his extensive training in the Harvard Plastic Surgery Program, Dr. Cooper is consistently on the cutting edge and incorporates best practices and the newest techniques being developed in plastic surgery around the world.
Dr. Cooper has a practice philosophy developed from his nearly 20 years of experience that centers on highly selective patient qualification and an individualized, detail-oriented surgical plan and process, to achieve the best possible outcomes and patient experience. Dr. Cooper limits the number of patients he operates on in one day and is highly regimented in his lifestyle to ensure that he is always at his best for his patients.
Dr. Cooper is a Stuart, Florida native and attended the University of Miami School of Medicine before completing the Combined Harvard Plastic Surgery Residency Program, one of the most prestigious programs in the country. He then built a successful practice at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Dr. Cooper has spoken nationally and internationally on topics such as anesthesia in facelift surgery.
After 10 years in Boston, Dr. Cooper returned to South Florida in 2014 and established his practice with a private AAAASF-certified surgical center in Jupiter, FL, and a second office location in Palm Beach, FL. Since the inception of Jason Cooper, MD, Plastic Surgery, he has become known nationally for several cosmetic surgery procedures, including facelift, eyelid surgery, and cosmetic breast surgery.
Dr. Cooper resides in North Palm Beach, Florida, with his wife and two daughters, and also spends time in his home in Park City, Utah. Dr. Cooper enjoys spending time with his family while alpine skiing, ski mountaineering, mountain biking, and hiking.
Learn more about why South Florida women and men looking for plastic surgeons in the Palm Beach Gardens area choose Dr. Cooper’s Jupiter, FL practice. Request a consultation online to meet with Dr. Cooper, or call our office at (561) 406-6574 to schedule an appointment.
Cosmetic Surgery Fellowships
Many cosmetic surgery fellowships do not qualify for accreditation. Surgeons who complete a cosmetic surgery fellowship do not meet ABPS criteria for board certification and do not qualify for ABPS membership. The ABPS has been considered a gold standard in medical and surgical training since its founding in 1941.
Jason Cooper, MD
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Trust your results to Dr. Jason Cooper, a board-certified plastic surgeon with nearly 20 years of experience and a top 1% facelift and neck lift practice in the U.S. Known for his natural aesthetic and meticulous approach, he delivers safe, personalized results using the latest advanced techniques.
Making Your Decision
Finally, when making your decision on whom to trust to perform your surgery, you should have confidence in the skill and expertise your surgeon provides. Trust your intuition. If you are not confident in the physician’s experience, skill, and bedside manner, you may not be satisfied with the journey you are about to begin. Your safety and medical care are worth the time spent investigating and educating yourself before making this important decision.
Learn More
Harvard-trained and board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Jason Cooper delivers high patient satisfaction. His patients enjoy exceptionally natural-looking results in plastic surgery of the face, breasts, and body. In addition, he is a top performer in facial plastic surgery, performing over 150 facelifts per year.
He performs all his surgical procedures at his state-of-the-art, accredited surgical center and is supported by a compassionate and professional staff in South Florida.
To learn more about Dr. Cooper’s practice, experience, accreditations, and the procedures he offers, request a consultation with him today.
Questions to Ask Your Surgeon
What training have you completed?
They should have at least six years of surgical training, with three years in plastic surgery.
Have you earned certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
They should answer “yes.”
Are you a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons?
They should answer “yes.” If not, they did not pass their board certification requirements or did not meet the necessary standards for certification.