In an age where doctors from all specialties are beginning to dabble in cosmetic surgery, it is important to know what makes a doctor a surgeon. The fact is that all medical doctors can legally perform surgery - even if the doctor has no surgical training. It is unfortunate that many patients do not realize until it is too late that the doctor that has performed a cosmetic procedure on them was not a surgeon.

When a patient sees the initials FACS after a medical doctor's name, however, he or she will know that the doctor is a surgeon with proven ability.

To become FACS, the doctor must first complete a surgical residency program that is certified by an American Surgical Specialty Board. These are full time programs that commonly span 4-6 years in length. Then, after several years of surgical experience, The American College of Surgeons reviews and evaluates the procedures that the doctor has performed. The college also reviews the doctor's professional conduct, requires that he or she have an appointment on the surgical staff of a hospital, checks for actions against the doctor by patients, and requires that all surgical and financial records be available for scrutiny.

Only a small percentage of all doctors have met the criteria to be certified as a Fellow by the American College of Surgeons.

Knowing that the FACS challenge has been met should give patients added confidence. They can be sure that their surgeon has demonstrated excellence and ethical conduct that has set them apart.