When it comes to plastic surgery, the most important decision you will make is choosing the surgeon who will perform your procedure. While general surgeons and non-surgeons alike will sometimes offer plastic surgery, you should always choose a plastic surgeon that has the credentials and specialized training necessary to provide you with the safest, most natural results possible. So before choosing your surgeon for your procedure, make sure you understand the credentials to look for!
Basic Requirements for Plastic Surgeons
The first steps to becoming a certified plastic surgeon is to complete medical school, typically four years, and then going on to complete an additional residency in general surgery. This can vary from 3-7 years. This broad medical and surgical training is then followed by several more years of specific training in a Plastic Surgery residency. These are the basic schooling requirements that you should always ensure your Plastic Surgeon has completed.
Additional Specialized Training
When it comes choosing the right surgeon for your Plastic Surgery, you’ll want to look for someone who has gone above and beyond the required general and plastic surgery training. Dr. Barone both completed an additional fellowship (specialty) program after they completed their residency. This involves one to two years of specialized training with well-recognized and published surgeons in their specific focus area. Although fellowship training is not required for plastic surgery board certification, it is an option to become much more exposed to advanced, cutting-edge techniques in a specific area of interest.
Dr. Barone has completed fellowships that focused his talents on Breast Augmentation. The additional training also provided the best practices for breasts in all types of cases. This includes cases of making breasts larger or smaller, correcting deformities, and helping breast cancer survivors. Dr. Barone completed a craniofacial surgery fellowship at Eastern Virginia Medical Center in Norfolk, followed by a fellowship at Vanderbilt University in breast reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
Board Certification Process
After the required schooling, plastic surgeons who have completed the adequate training are invited to become certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a rigorous certification process that attests to the skill and ethics of their practice. This is not required to practice plastic surgery but provides an advanced level of certification that you should absolutely look for when choosing your surgeon! The certification process involves training with top surgeons, written and oral evaluations, as well as required maintenance exams to ensure the ongoing safety and ethics of the surgeon’s practice.
Dr. Barone has gone on to become certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in addition to his required training and fellowships. To learn more about Dr. Barone’s credentials and breast surgery expertise, contact our office, and schedule your consultation.