If you are searching for a plastic surgeon near me, the most important credential to understand is also one of the most misunderstood in American medicine: only the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is the ABMS member board that certifies plastic surgeons. “Cosmetic surgeons” with non-ABPS credentials are a different category, and many states allow physicians without plastic surgery training to perform cosmetic procedures. The price tags are also significant, eyelid lifts start around $3,000 and complex procedures can exceed $15,000, so vetting credentials and understanding what you are paying for matters more here than in most specialties.
What a Plastic Surgeon Is and What They Do
Plastic surgeons are physicians who completed either an integrated 6-year residency in plastic surgery directly from medical school, or a general surgery residency followed by a 3-year plastic surgery fellowship. They are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the only ABMS member board for plastic surgery in the United States. ABPS-certified plastic surgeons train extensively in both reconstructive procedures (breast reconstruction after mastectomy, cleft lip repair, burn reconstruction, hand surgery, microvascular tissue transfer, complex wound reconstruction) and cosmetic procedures (rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, facelift, blepharoplasty, liposuction).
This is where vocabulary gets important. The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery is not an ABMS member board. Physicians from other specialties (gynecology, family medicine, ENT, dermatology) sometimes practice as “cosmetic surgeons” with non-ABPS certifications and varying levels of cosmetic surgery training. Some are highly skilled within their scope; others are not. The distinction is meaningful because hospital privileging committees, malpractice carriers, and accredited surgery centers treat ABPS certification as the recognized standard.
When to See a Plastic Surgeon
Reconstructive reasons include breast reconstruction after mastectomy (often covered under the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act), Mohs reconstruction after skin cancer removal, complex wound closure, hand injuries, congenital defects, and post-bariatric body contouring. Many patients meet a plastic surgeon for the first time after a referral from a Mohs surgeon or bariatric surgeon.
Cosmetic reasons include rhinoplasty, breast augmentation or reduction, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), liposuction, facelift, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), brow lift, and gynecomastia surgery. Non-surgical aesthetic services (Botox, fillers, energy-based devices) are increasingly common in plastic surgery practices but may also be performed by dermatologists, including board-certified dermatologists.
How to Find a Plastic Surgeon Near You
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons directory at plasticsurgery.org lists ABPS-certified surgeons by location and procedure. ASPS membership requires ABPS certification, hospital privileges, and operating only in accredited surgical facilities. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (The Aesthetic Society) is a smaller subset focused on cosmetic surgery, with the same baseline ABPS requirement.
For breast reconstruction, the Plastic Surgery Foundation offers a Breast Reconstruction Awareness directory with surgeons experienced in microsurgical procedures (DIEP flap, SIEA flap). For hand and microsurgery subspecialties, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand maintains a separate directory.
How to Verify Credentials
Run four checks before scheduling cosmetic surgery, the highest-stakes situation in this field. First, verify ABPS board certification at certificationmatters.org or directly at abplasticsurgery.org. Look specifically for “Plastic Surgery”; “Cosmetic Surgery” alone is not the same. Second, confirm hospital privileges at an accredited hospital for the procedure you want, which signals peer review and credentialing oversight. Third, confirm that the surgical facility is accredited by AAAASF, AAAHC, or Joint Commission, or is a licensed hospital or ambulatory surgery center. Fourth, verify state medical license through your state medical board.
Ask about case volume for your specific procedure, complication rate, revision rate, and where complications are managed. A surgeon who performs 200 rhinoplasties a year is usually preferable to one who performs 10. Look at before-and-after photos of patients with similar anatomy to yours, not just the most flattering examples.
Common Procedures and What to Expect
Breast surgery makes up a large share of plastic surgery practice. Augmentation typically uses silicone or saline implants and takes 1 to 2 hours under general anesthesia, with most patients returning to desk work in 5 to 7 days. Breast reduction relieves chronic neck, back, and shoulder pain and is often partially covered by insurance with documentation; recovery runs 2 to 4 weeks. Reconstructive procedures after mastectomy include implant-based reconstruction and autologous tissue (DIEP flap, SIEA flap) approaches, with longer recovery and substantial functional and cosmetic considerations.
Body contouring includes abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), liposuction, and post-bariatric body contouring. Patients who have lost significant weight after bariatric surgery often pursue body contouring 12 to 18 months after weight stabilization. Multiple-area contouring such as “mommy makeover” packages combines abdominoplasty, breast surgery, and liposuction in a single anesthetic session, which can shorten total recovery but increases procedural risk.
Facial procedures range from minimally invasive (Botox, fillers, energy-based treatments) to surgical (facelift, blepharoplasty, brow lift, rhinoplasty). Rhinoplasty is among the most technically demanding procedures because small changes have large aesthetic effects and revisions are common. Functional rhinoplasty for breathing difficulty (deviated septum, nasal valve collapse) is often combined with cosmetic refinement, with the functional component sometimes covered by insurance. Reconstructive procedures after Mohs surgery for skin cancer often involve coordination with a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon.
Costs and Insurance Considerations
Cosmetic plastic surgery is almost entirely cash-pay. Approximate national average cash prices include eyelid surgery $3,000 to $6,000, breast augmentation $5,000 to $10,000, rhinoplasty $7,000 to $15,000, abdominoplasty $8,000 to $15,000, facelift $8,000 to $20,000, and “mommy makeover” packages $15,000 to $30,000. These figures usually exclude anesthesia, facility fees, and post-op garments, which add 20% to 40%. According to ASPS national statistics, average surgeon fees alone (not total cost) sit in the lower end of these ranges.
Reconstructive plastic surgery is usually covered by insurance when medically necessary, including breast reconstruction post-mastectomy (federal law), congenital deformity repair, post-trauma reconstruction, and skin cancer reconstruction. Functional rhinoplasty for breathing issues, panniculectomy for chronic skin infections under an abdominal pannus, and breast reduction for chronic neck and back pain often have coverage with documentation. Always verify with your plan and our healthcare costs guide for context on out-of-pocket pricing.
Telehealth Options for Plastic Surgery
Initial cosmetic consultations can begin by video and many practices offer this for out-of-town patients, but in-person evaluation before surgery is essentially universal. The surgeon needs to examine tissue quality, skin elasticity, scar tendency, and underlying anatomy. Most reconstructive consultations also require in-person assessment.
Where telehealth fits cleanly is post-operative follow-up for low-risk concerns, photo-based monitoring of incisions, and pre-op education sessions. Our telehealth guide covers what to expect from virtual consultations and how to vet a remote provider when distance matters. For surgical care, expect a hybrid model rather than fully virtual care.
What to Bring to Your Pre-Op Consultation
Bring a complete medical history including all surgeries, anesthesia complications (especially malignant hyperthermia history), bleeding tendencies, and medications. List all supplements and herbal products; many increase bleeding risk and should be stopped 1 to 2 weeks before surgery (fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo, garlic, ginger, ginseng, St. John’s wort). Note current and past smoking status honestly; nicotine significantly increases wound complications, and many surgeons require 4 to 6 weeks of cessation before elective procedures.
Also bring photos of results you want and results you do not want. Be ready to discuss timing, recovery, work and childcare logistics, and budget including a contingency for revisions. Ask which complications would be covered by the surgeon and which would generate additional charges.
Plan logistics carefully. Most procedures require someone to drive you home after surgery and stay with you for 24 hours, longer for major operations. Time off work depends on procedure: 5 to 7 days for minor facial procedures, 2 to 3 weeks for body procedures, and 4 to 6 weeks before strenuous exercise. Discuss whether you need to fill prescriptions in advance, what to wear on surgery day, when you can shower, and how to manage drains if any are placed. The surgeon’s pre-op packet usually covers these details, but ask if anything is unclear.
When to seek emergency care: If after surgery you experience heavy bleeding that soaks dressings, chest pain, shortness of breath, calf pain or swelling (possible blood clot), fever above 101.5 F, expanding redness around incisions, or signs of infection, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room rather than waiting for a follow-up appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a “cosmetic surgeon” the same as a plastic surgeon?
No. ABPS-certified plastic surgeons completed accredited plastic surgery training and passed the ABMS-recognized board exam. “Cosmetic surgeon” is not an ABMS specialty. Physicians from various specialties may use this title with varying levels of cosmetic training. For surgical procedures, ABPS certification plus hospital privileges is the standard.
Will insurance cover any cosmetic procedure?
Insurance covers reconstructive procedures when medically necessary, including breast reconstruction after mastectomy (federal law), congenital deformity repair, and reconstruction after trauma or cancer surgery. Functional rhinoplasty, panniculectomy, and reduction mammoplasty are sometimes covered with documentation. Pure cosmetic procedures are not.
What facility accreditation should I look for?
Look for AAAASF, AAAHC, or Joint Commission accreditation, or a licensed hospital or ambulatory surgery center. Accredited facilities meet standards for anesthesia, sterilization, emergency response, and personnel training.
How do I evaluate before-and-after photos?
Look for patients with anatomy similar to yours, consistent lighting and angles, and a range of results, not only ideal cases. Ask how many revisions are typical for the procedure you want.
How long is recovery?
Most patients return to desk work in 1 to 2 weeks for facial procedures and 2 to 4 weeks for body procedures. Full recovery, including final scar maturation, takes 6 to 12 months.
Realistic Expectations and Revisions
Even excellent plastic surgery does not produce perfect results. Asymmetry exists in everyone’s anatomy, and surgery cannot completely erase it. Scarring is a permanent reality, though scar quality depends on technique, location, genetics, sun protection, and post-operative care. Revision rates for cosmetic procedures vary by operation: rhinoplasty has the highest revision rate, often 5 to 15% even in experienced hands; breast augmentation revisions over a lifetime are common as implants age. Discuss revision policies before surgery, including which complications are covered and which generate additional charges.
Aging continues after surgery. A facelift does not stop the aging process; it sets the clock back, with results that typically last 8 to 12 years before further interventions might be considered. Body contouring results last as long as weight remains stable; significant weight gain or loss after surgery affects the final appearance. Cosmetic procedures work best as part of a longer relationship with the surgeon and a realistic understanding of how results evolve over time.
Choosing the Right Plastic Surgeon
The right plastic surgeon near you is ABPS board certified, holds hospital privileges for the procedure you want, operates in an accredited facility, and has substantial volume in your specific operation. Verify each item independently rather than relying on a single website. For reconstructive needs, ASPS or hospital-system referrals are the most efficient route. For cosmetic procedures, the same baseline applies plus close attention to before-and-after photos, complication management, and facility credentials. Cosmetic procedures are reversible only at significant cost, so taking an extra week for due diligence is almost always worth it.