Top 5 Benefits of Being a Board-Certified Facial Cosmetic Surgeon

Top 5 Benefits of Being a Board-Certified Facial Cosmetic Surgeon

If you perform facial cosmetic surgery, the benefits of being board-certified extend well beyond a certificate hanging in your consultation room. Certification gives you access to a network of surgeons who, like yourself, are passionate about the nuanced art of facial cosmetic surgery. This credential also signals your trustworthiness to patients doing their research online, showing that your training, experience, and expertise have been thoroughly vetted and tested.

Below, we outline 5 of the benefits you can anticipate if you pass our facial cosmetic surgery application and examination process to become a board-certified facial cosmetic surgeon.

1. Facial cosmetic board certification allows you to stand out as a trusted choice in your market.

Patients are aware of the skill necessary to achieve a beautiful result. They are looking for a reputable surgeon in whom they can place their trust, and they are looking specifically for board certification. Patients know board-certified facial cosmetic surgeons are rigorously screened and certified by our board for the following characteristics they seek:

  • Impeccable medical safety
  • Demonstrated mastery of facial aesthetics
  • Proven skill in performing surgical procedures and non-surgical treatments
  • Ethical practice

If you decide to focus your practice solely on aesthetic procedures of the head, face, and neck, board certification in facial cosmetic surgery allows you to stand out in your local region. The credential lends a high level of trust to your name and your practice; achieving and maintaining board certification demonstrates to your patients and your colleagues that you are dedicated to excellence in facial cosmetic surgery.

2. Our surgeons are a family of facial cosmetic specialists.

Diplomate status gives you access to a network of highly experienced, technically skilled colleagues and mentors who are passionate about supporting each other’s practices in all senses. From generously sharing clinical information and techniques, to discussing practice management, to helping you face unexpected challenges, your ABFCS colleagues will prove to be an invaluable part of your professional life. 

Our diversity is the source of our strength: ABFCS diplomates come to facial cosmetic surgery from a variety of surgical training backgrounds. Working in a focused surgical specialty informed by so many knowledge bases helps our diplomates pioneer and advance techniques, in addition to enriching the daily practices of all who are part of the organization.

“One of my favorite memories from my 14 years of active duty service in the US Air Force was the camaraderie between the subspecialties of ENT, Oculoplastics, OMFS, Dermatology and Plastic Surgery. There was tremendous skill sharing, as our primary objective was always to simply take care of the airmen without any economic driver playing a hand.

The ABFCS fosters a very similar feel of sharing skills, knowledge and camaraderie amongst different specialties, all with the goal of providing our patients with the highest standards of cosmetic facial surgery. It’s a wonderful organization to be part of.”

Kevin Kalwerisky, MD, FACS

3. You can enjoy a stable career in a dynamic field.

With the right training and credentials, you are likely to enjoy a long career in this diverse, evolving field. New techniques emerge on a regular basis, making facial cosmetic surgery an endlessly interesting and academically challenging specialty. Additionally, patient interest in aesthetic medicine increases year after year: cosmetic surgery demand grew even during the pandemic, illustrating its resiliency through the decades.

In comparison, many other specialties have high rates of physician burnout, leading surgeons to retire at a younger age than they might otherwise. However, most facial cosmetic surgeons are able to work hours of their choosing to create a balanced lifestyle, allowing them to bring positive energy to each patient interaction—as well as have the stamina to enjoy their work for many years. As a facial cosmetic surgeon in private practice, your work will be emotionally rewarding, allow for lengthy and positive relationships with patients, and offer you a way to earn a living outside of the health insurance system.

4. Facial cosmetic surgeons also benefit from helping patients reach their goals.

A career as a facial cosmetic surgeon can be incredibly fulfilling. Our surgeons derive satisfaction from the combination of building patient relationships and creating solutions to meet their goals. You will see appreciative, enthusiastic patients and have the opportunity to be part of their self-directed life changes. Facial cosmetic surgeons establish enriching relationships with patients, from the first conversation to follow-up visits to subsequent procedures months and years later. 

Related: Frequently asked questions about board certification in facial cosmetic surgery »

5. You may become board certified through flexible pathways.

We believe in the strength of diversity and as such, you can start the path to becoming a board certified facial cosmetic surgeon from a number of related speciality backgrounds. ABFCS accepts applications from surgeons who completed training and hold primary board certification in oculoplastic surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery (both single- and dual-degree are eligible), otolaryngology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, general surgery, ophthalmology, and dermatology. These physicians may qualify to sit for our board certifying exam in one of 3 ways:

  • Facial cosmetic surgery experience. You may be eligible to sit for the board exam if you have completed 200+ qualifying facial cosmetic procedures as a primary surgeon in a 3-year period.
  • Fellowship training with the AACS. The 1-year facial cosmetic surgery fellowship certified by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) offers the hands-on experience and training required to petition the ABFCS for board certification.
  • Equivalent fellowship. Other fellowships equivalent in scope and rigor to the AACS-certified fellowship may qualify you to sit for the board exam.

Begin the process to becoming a board-certified facial cosmetic surgeon

Are you ready to specialize in facial cosmetic surgery? To learn more about the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery (ABFCS) application process, fellowship programs, and more, please use the resources below to guide you toward the next steps on your journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have along the way.

Leave a Comment: