The Story of Plastic Surgery
Science
Resilience
"Having someone there who has experience helps you make it through the tough times. That's what my ASPS Member Surgeon did for me."
Tracie, Breast Reconstruction Patient
"After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in esthetics, plasticity, and form."
Albert Einstein
Landmark Breakthroughs
Plastic surgeons have been pioneers in the development of hundreds of innovative techniques, including tissue transfer; microvascular, craniofacial, and maxillofacial surgery; and liposuction.
In the picture above, ASPS Member Surgeon Joseph Murray performs the first ever live organ transplant — a kidney — an accomplishment that earned him a Nobel Prize in 1990.
Continuing Evolution
The science of plastic surgery evolves continuously. New cases and hands-on experience spur new solutions and innovations.
Training and Patient Safety
ASPS Member Surgeons undergo extensive training before certification; each has at least five years of surgical training with at least two years of training specifically in plastic surgery.
Each ASPS Member Surgeon also participates in continuing medical education, operates only in accredited medical facilities, and is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, (or its equivalent in Canada) the only U.S. board authorized to certify physicians in plastic surgery of the entire face and body.
