Dr. William Scarlett is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who also did advanced training in a cosmetic surgery fellowship.
Most plastic surgeons, after medical school, undergo a grueling five-year residency in general surgery and then enter a highly competitive two- or three-year plastic and reconstructive surgery residency. This is over seven years of demanding surgical training which is vital to becoming a good plastic surgeon. Dr. Scarlett then spent an additional year in Scottsdale, Arizona, training in cosmetic surgical techniques. After finishing his residencies and fellowships, Dr. Scarlett completed extensive written, oral and clinical examinations in order to become board-certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
“Make sure that your surgeon is
board certified in their specialty…”
Due to the popularity of plastic surgery among patients, some physicians and non-physicians without any formal training in plastic and reconstructive surgery are claiming to be plastic surgeons or cosmetic surgeons. Many of these individuals are only interested in the financial gain of performing cosmetic procedures and are not as concerned with the well-being of the patient. It is not against the law to perform cosmetic procedures if you are not a plastic surgeon, in fact some self-proclaimed plastic and cosmetic surgeons are residency trained in Dentistry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family Medicine, Dermatology and Internal Medicine and are not fully trained in plastic and reconstructive surgery at all. It is extremely important you ask your potential surgeon for verification that they are residency- or fellowship-trained, board-eligible, or board-certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Make sure your plastic surgeon is a D.O. or an M.D. and has trained in an AOA or ACGME approved plastic and reconstructive surgical training program. These are the only two national medical education committees with approved training programs in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Scarlett has completed an AOA approved training program in plastic and reconstructive surgery and adheres to the rigorous guidelines set forth by the AOA.
So to summarize, choose a residency- or fellowship-trained plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Make sure they are board eligible or board certified in this specialty. Ask to see credentials, or simply ask to see their diploma verifying they have trained in a plastic and reconstructive surgery residency or fellowship. Look to see if the diploma clearly states “Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.” You may be surprised how many physicians cannot verify this basic information. You deserve the best care and you should not accept any less of your plastic surgeon.
Check here to see if your physician is licensed in the State of Pennsylvania and to check their credentials: Pennsylvania Department of Health Medical License Search.
