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Checking a plastic surgeon in the United States

In the US, any licensed physician can perform cosmetic procedures. The credential to look for is certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Last checked 18 October 2026
Check a surgeon in the United States

What the titles mean in the United States

There's no single national register. Doctors are licensed state by state, and specialty is shown by board certification. For plastic surgery, that's the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).

“Board certified” on its own can refer to boards that aren't recognised for plastic surgery, so the name of the board matters.

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What we check for US surgeons

American Board of Plastic SurgeryBoard certification status and whether it's currentIndependent
NPI RegistryThe provider's registered specialty and practice locationOfficial register
FSMB DocInfoState medical licences and any board disciplinary actionsIndependent
American Society of Plastic SurgeonsMembership, which requires ABPS certificationIndependent
The Aesthetic SocietyMembership, which requires ABPS certificationIndependent

Society membership is voluntary. Not being a member doesn't mean a surgeon isn't qualified.

How to check it yourself

  1. Check the surgeon's certification with the American Board of Plastic Surgery. American Board of Plastic Surgery
  2. Confirm the certification is current.
  3. Look up their state licence and any disciplinary actions on DocInfo. DocInfo
  4. If you like, look them up in the ASPS or Aesthetic Society directories.

Common questions

How do I check if a US plastic surgeon is board certified?

Search the surgeon's name on the American Board of Plastic Surgery's certification lookup, or on Certification Matters, the free service from the American Board of Medical Specialties. Certification Matters only lists ABMS member board certification. Then check state licences and any disciplinary actions on DocInfo, run by the Federation of State Medical Boards.

Source: American Board of Medical Specialties; Federation of State Medical Boards

Is “board certified” enough?

Ask which board. For plastic surgery, look for the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Is there a national register of doctors in the US?

No. Licences are issued by each state's medical board. DocInfo, run by the Federation of State Medical Boards, brings them together.

I'm considering surgery abroad. What should I check?

The same principle applies everywhere: find the official register in that country and look for specialist registration in plastic surgery. See every country we cover