Questions Reporters Frequently Ask
Media FAQs
Q1. What is the most common procedure performed by
plastic surgeons?
A1. The most commonly performed procedure overall is a tumor removal at 509,457.
The most commonly performed cosmetic procedure is liposuction (172,079).
Q2. What is the most common cosmetic procedure for men?
A2. Nose reshaping. Number 2 is liposuction.
Q3. What are baby-boomers having done to stay young?
A3. The top 5 procedures for men and women, 35 - 50 years old, are liposuction;
eyelid surgery; tummy tuck; breast augmentation; and chemical peels.
Q4. Why is cosmetic and reconstructive surgery called
plastic?
A4. Plastic comes from the Greek term plastikos, meaning to mold or shape.
Q5. Where are there the most plastic surgeons?
A5. The most board-certified plastic surgeons are in the District of Columbia,
followed by Florida, Utah, Nevada and New York. Wyoming, Vermont, Iowa, Maine
and South Dakota have the fewest plastic surgeons. To find the states with the
most plastic surgeons, ASPS compares the number of board-certified plastic
surgeons to the population of the entire state.
Q6. What is board-certification?
A6. Plastic surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
ABPS is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To become board-certified, a
physician must pass a series of rigorous oral and written tests about medical
procedures and practices.
Q7. How does someone find a board-certified plastic
surgeon? Also, is there a way to check to see if a doctor is a board certified
plastic surgeon?
A7. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has a toll-free telephone number
that can provide information on plastic surgeons in a specific area and the
procedures each performs, as well as verify board certification. Consumers
should call the Plastic Surgery Information Service, 1-888-4-PLASTIC
(1-888-475-2784), to access this service.
Q8. Why can a doctor call him/herself a plastic surgeon
even if he/she is not board-certified as one?
A8. A medical license gives a doctor the ability to practice any type of
medicine. The best way to know a doctor s specialty is to check for board
certification. Plastic surgeons are board-certified by the American Board of
Plastic Surgery. While board certification does not guarantee the skills of a
specific doctor, it does confirm that the doctor has completed a standardized
training program and continues to receive medical training. That is why it is so
important for consumers to check for board-certification. Additionally, another
way to check if a doctor is qualified to perform a procedure is to contact the
hospital where he/she has admitting privileges. Hospitals limit admitting
privileges to procedures doctors are trained to perform.
Q9. What is reconstructive plastic surgery?
A9. Reconstructive surgery attempts to recreate the form and function of a
normal body part after an injury or illness.
Q10. What is cosmetic plastic surgery?
A10. Cosmetic surgery reshapes normal structures of the body to improve
appearance or self-esteem. Procedures such as facelifts, liposuction and nose
reshaping are common cosmetic procedures.
Q11. How many members are part of the American Society
of Plastic Surgeons?
A11. Almost 5,000 members.
Note
All statistics taken from the 1998 National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery
Statistics.
