An experienced plastic surgeon is a MUST!

Submitted by Dr. Bernabe Vazquez on March 27, 2022

A highly experienced plastic surgeon is not a consideration; It’s a MUST when choosing a surgeon you can trust for a plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedure.  

You wouldn’t choose a shady, discount mechanic to work on your new Porsche 911, would you? Yet year after year, news headlines in South Florida feature stories of plastic surgeries gone terribly wrong after visiting cheap, discount plastic surgery centers. 

The old adage, “only fools rush in” is especially true when it comes to making decisions about cosmetic surgery. 

If you’re considering a plastic surgery procedure, it’s important you take the time to perform your due diligence. This includes finding and meeting with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon that specializes in (or has many years experience performing) the procedure you’ve chosen; reading reviews; looking at before & afters; and touring the surgical facility you’re considering.

The best plastic surgery results come from the most experienced surgeons

The process of becoming a board certified plastic surgeon is long and arduous. Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery is a qualification not easily obtained. Thus, by choosing a board-certified surgeon, you can feel more confident in the knowledge that your doctor is certifiably highly skilled, makes ethical decisions, and uses safe and proven practices to ensure a successful surgical outcome.

The credentialing doctors receive after medical training can be confusing. Some doctors present themselves as board certified, but they’re not certified in the specific medical services they provide, such as plastic surgery. Additionally, a doctor may be certified by an organization that is not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) — meaning the certification doesn’t hold the same professional weight or require as much expertise to attain. 

Dr. Bernabe Vazquez, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a Miami-based, board-certified plastic surgeon with more than three decades of experience helping patients achieve a look they love safely.  Dr. Vazquez has been in practice consistently since 1988, where he’s performed thousands of plastic surgery procedures on nearly every part of the human body.  

Why board certification matters when choosing a plastic surgeon

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeon’s, an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who’s been certified by an ABMS-approved board comes with several important distinctions;

• These surgeons have an average of 16 years of post-secondary medical education, including specific training in reconstructive & cosmetic surgery 

• Surgeons must meet rigorous requirements before sitting for their board exams, and must pass a 2-day written & oral examination, being critically evaluated for their knowledge, their ethical standing and their safe and effective approach to multiple reconstructive and cosmetic challenges.

• The physician continues to participate in continuing education opportunities annually, and regular testing within the field for which they’re treating 

A board certified, highly experienced plastic surgeon will have a plethora of practice under their belt, having performed thousands of procedures of all kinds. However, some surgeons have more experience with specific procedures than others. For example, some surgeons specialize in tummy tucks and liposuction, while others focus on facial surgeries — such as face lifts and rhinoplasty (nose job). 

When seeking out the surgeon of your choice, be sure the doctor you chose has ample experience in the procedure you are interested in, has great reviews from past patients, and has before and after photos showing results that are realistic to your body type.   The more experience a surgeon has working with different body types, the more well-equipped they are to have successful surgical outcomes.

Interested in exploring a cosmetic procedure with Dr. Vazquez? Start the conversation by giving our South Miami offices a call at (305) 858-8222. View before & after galleries on our website, or on Facebook or Instagram.