BACKGROUND: Aesthetic surgery patients commonly use online resources to select a surgeon. The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member board that certifies plastic surgeons. The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) provides physicians with aesthetic surgery credentials through a non-ABMS recognized process. This study examines use of the phrases “plastic surgery” and “plastic surgeon” by ABCS-certified surgeons without plastic surgery training when advertising their practice online.
METHODS: ABCS Diplomates were identified from the ABCS website. Professional websites, Facebook business pages, and Instagram profiles for ABCS Diplomates were located by online search. Use of the descriptor “plastic” and ABCS board certification on practice websites, categorization of Facebook business pages, and use of plastic surgery-related hashtags in Instagram posts were recorded.
RESULTS: An estimated 298 non-ABPS-certified ABCS Diplomates were included. In total, 296 (96.7%) had professional websites, and 272 (88.9%) had Facebook business pages, and 215 (70.3%) had Instagram profiles. Those categorized their Facebook business page as “plastic surgeon” were 189 (69.5%). Within their Instagram posts, 123 (57.2%) included the hashtag #plasticsurgeon, and 172 (80.0%) included the hashtag #plasticsurgery. On their professional websites, 90 (30.4%) ABCS Diplomates identified themselves as a “plastic surgeon,” and 123 (41.6%) used “plastic” to describe their practice. An estimated 238 (83.2%) ABCS Diplomates mentioned their board certification by ABCS or their status as an ABCS Diplomate on their practice website. In total, 207 (72.4%) included their ABCS credential in a list of qualifications, and 107 (37.4%) included ABCS when advertising their multiple board certifications.
CONCLUSIONS: ABCS Diplomates frequently market themselves as “plastic surgeons” despite a lack of accredited plastic surgery training. This can mislead patients about the training background of their surgeon and is meant to be counteracted by “Trust ASPS” and other public awareness campaigns by plastic surgery societies.1 ABCS Diplomates also utilize their ABCS credentials to promote themselves as “board-certified” cosmetic surgeons. However, because ABCS is not an ABMS member board, this potentially violates truth-in-advertising legislation in some states and increases public confusion regarding different board certifications.2,3
REFERENCES:
1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Trust ASPS. Available at: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/patient-safety/trust-asps. Accessed January 30, 2021.
2. Anemann MS Jr., Wall HC, Dean JA. Preserving the legitimacy of board certification. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2017;78:S325-S327.
3. American Medical Association. Truth in advertising campaign booklet. Available at: https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2020-10/truth-in-advertising-campaign-booklet.pdf. Accessed January 30, 2021.