American Board of Plastic Surgery Physician Classification
The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) uses a single primary designation: "Diplomate," which refers to physicians who have successfully completed board certification. The ABPS does not subdivide its certified physicians into categories such as Fellow, Associate Fellow, or Member—these are not official ABPS classifications.
Understanding ABPS Certification Structure
The ABPS certification system is straightforward:
Diplomates: Board-certified plastic surgeons who have completed residency training (typically 6+ years of surgical and specialty training), passed written and oral examinations, and met all certification requirements 1
No hierarchical subdivisions: Unlike some professional societies that use titles like "Fellow" or "Member," the ABPS itself does not employ these designations for ranking diplomates
Important Distinctions to Understand
Board Certification vs. Society Membership
The confusion often arises because professional societies (not the certifying board) may use different membership categories:
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS): Uses "Member" designation
- The Aesthetic Society: Has membership categories
- These society memberships are separate from ABPS board certification status
Clinical Significance
Board certification status matters significantly for patient outcomes. Research demonstrates that ABPS diplomates (board-certified plastic surgeons) have substantially lower rates of disciplinary actions compared to physicians certified by non-American Board of Medical Specialties-recognized boards 2. Specifically, ABPS diplomates had disciplinary action rates of only 3.1-4.4%, compared to 9.0% for alternative board certifications.
Verification of Credentials
When evaluating a plastic surgeon's qualifications:
- Confirm ABPS Diplomate status through the official ABPS website
- Understand that "board-certified" only means ABPS certification in plastic surgery when referring to legitimate plastic surgery board certification
- Be aware that other boards (like the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery) are not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties and have different training pathways 2
Common Pitfall
Do not confuse society membership titles with board certification status. A physician may be a "Member" of a professional society without being an ABPS Diplomate, or vice versa. Only ABPS Diplomate status confirms completion of accredited plastic surgery training and board certification 1.