Plastic Surgery
Board Certification
The success of any plastic surgery procedure is dependent upon the skill of the surgeon. Knowing this, the simple process of choosing a plastic surgeon can turn into a difficult and time-consuming task.
Even if you know the exact results that you are hoping to achieve, you may feel conflicted on who the best person is to turn to. The vast amount of online information and the mindboggling number of doctors who are ready to cash in on these hot trends lead to confusion. To get you off to a good start in your search for a proper cosmetic plastic surgeon, Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery will attempt to shed some light on the cosmetic surgery industry by breaking down the seven vital questions to ask when looking at a potential doctor and operating facility.
How to choose a properly certified plastic surgeon & plastic surgery facility
Is your potential surgeon board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery(ABPS)?
Board certification by the ABPS tells you right away that the surgeon has completed his/her degrees from an accredited undergraduate college and medical school, finished an approved general surgery residency of at least three years, and a qualified plastic surgery residency of an additional two to three years. After the candidate has been with a plastic surgery practice for at least two years, they must then pass a rigorous written and oral examination to earn their board certification. To maintain their certification, the surgeon will have to continue to complete annual continuing education credits, pass recertification exams, and maintain the highest level of patient care. While not every plastic surgeon can boast board certification, you should only move forward with someone who has.
Dr. Vitenas is board certified by the ABPS, with over 30 years of experience. A graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Dr. Vitenas completed his General Surgery Residency and Plastic Surgery Residency at the Tulane University School of Medicine:
Is your doctor trained in plastic surgery (not dentistry or gynecology)?
In most states, including Texas, it is legal for any physician who holds a medical license to advertise and practice as a plastic or cosmetic surgeon. The medical profession does not regulate the type of medicine that a licensed physician can practice and there are no laws saying that a doctor must stick to the field they were trained in. This lack of regulation means that it is legal for doctors to ‘specialize’ in whatever they want with little to no actual training.
Plastic surgery is one of today’s most desirable specialties. As aesthetic procedures continue to grow in popularity, many doctors are switching into the field to reap the profits. Gynecologists, dentists, and ENT physicians are performing cosmetic procedures, passing themselves off as experienced in the field. This can pose a significant health hazard to unassuming patients. Do not be fooled by a smooth-talking physician or a well put together website, check your potential surgeon’s credentials and board certification before moving forward.
Dr. Vitenas has decades of experience with cosmetic and reconstructive procedures for the face and body. His extensive training in plastic and cosmetic surgery includes a competitive Craniofacial and Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship at the Clinic Belvedere and Hospital Necker in Paris, France, as well as an Orthognathic Surgery Fellowship from Louisiana State Medical Center.
Does your surgeon hold any other board certifications?
Does your doctor have an active membership in any professional societies?
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS): Only doctors who are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) may become members of ASPS, which represents the full scope of plastic surgery (reconstructive and aesthetic) providers. On-going continuing medical education by the physician is a requirement of membership.
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS): Surgeons must be certified by the ABPS to become members of ASAPS. While ASAPS members are fully trained in both reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery, they hold a special interest in aesthetic plastic surgery procedures.
In addition to his ABPS board certification, Dr. Vitenas is a member of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Cleft Palate-Cranio-facial Association, is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and holds an active membership in numerous state & local plastic surgery and medical societies.
Is your surgeon affiliated with a respected, local hospital?
Dr. Vitenas carries hospital privileges at several Houston-area facilities, including Memorial Hermann Hospital. However, to ensure the very best patient care and convenience, Dr. Vitenas uses his own operating suites to perform his procedures.
If your surgeon uses an office-based operating room, is it accredited?
Dr. Vitenas performs all of his procedures at the Houston Surgery Center, located in the Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery building. This private facility consists of two state-of-the-art operating suites, and three technologically advanced recovery bays. Fully accredited by the AAAASF, the Houston Surgery Center is a safe and comfortable environment for your surgical procedure, ensuring you get the most satisfying results without the unnecessary risk for side effects.
Does your surgeon use a board-certified anesthesiologist?
Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery and the Houston Surgery Center are committed to your safety, with a board-certified anesthesiologist on staff, overseeing every surgical procedure.