Liposuction Surgeons: How to Choose One

When deciding on a plastic surgeon for liposuction, make sure his or her facility is accredited and that the doctor has the proper privileges to perform the procedure in an accredited hospital. Even if you are having the procedure done in the doctor's office, you will want to ensure the individual can perform the same surgery in a hospital. This is a way to ensure that this is a qualified individual doing your tummy tuck.

But with so many plastic surgeons available, all touting this and that, and with an alphabet soup of titles behind their names, how exactly do you know who is the right one to perform an operation on you? And what do the DO and FACS mean behind a surgeon's name?

There are many factors you need to consider when making your decision. First and foremost, check your doctor's qualifications and surgical experience. Know that a doctor with MD behind his or her name has gone to a four-year medical school, learning medical theory and practices. Doctors with DO behind their names attended a four-year osteopathic school, learning holistic approaches to medicine as well as tradition treatments. The curricula of the two schools is nearly identical and state regulatory agencies view the doctor's degree from each institution equally.

To earn a doctor's degree, an individual must go through four years of undergraduate training, four years of medical school, as well as internship and residency programs. During internships, students work with patients under the supervision of a physician. Many MDs complete graduate work in a specialty area during a paid residency program. Many DOs complete a 12-month internship program and a residency stint of up to six years. To be licensed, doctors must complete requirements at an accredited medical school, pass a certification exam and have between one and seven years of study in their specialty area of medicine.

FACS behind a doctor's name means that he or she is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. It means the doctor has passed an assessment of education, training, competency and ethical conduct by the College of Surgeons.

Doctors touting ABMS or AOA in their title have been certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties or American Osteopathic Association within two years of starting their practice.

Know that a plastic surgeon belonging to a certain organization is no guarantee of a successful operation no matter how impressive the group may sound. However, some certifying organizations, such as the American Board of Plastic Surgery, require extensive training and experience be shown before membership in the organization is granted. You should also know that all certifications are not equal. In some cases, such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the doctor cannot apply for membership. He or she need to be invited into the group.

In addition to this, certain organizations require continuing education and training for individuals to retain membership in the group. The American Board of Plastic Surgery has the most stringent surgical training certification requirements and the highest standards of certification for plastic surgery procedures.