By Megan King
Taking the leap into getting plastic surgery may be a very overwhelming experience. You may find yourself deep in a rabbit hole of eye appealing websites with beautiful models in lieu of actual patients, product brands, non-invasive procedures, invasive procedures, etc. You’re sure to feel exhausted and probably a bit lost!
The first step, and often the most daunting, is to find a surgeon who is board certified. Dr. Gregory Bland, Colorado Springs Plastic Surgeon, recommends you visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons where you’ll be able to select a list of board-certified plastic surgeons by zip code and ones close to your home or office. This search will narrow down your options and allow you to properly navigate through selecting the right surgeon for your cosmetic procedure. Generally, the most difficult, this research is also the most important part of your decision to have plastic surgery.
Why is this so important? Peace of Mind! You want to make sure you are in the hands of the most qualified plastic surgeon. That’s not to say you shouldn’t trust our family practitioner, dermatologist, ophthalmologist, etc. to guide you with recommendations, but you want to make sure you select a plastic surgeon who meets and upholds the rigorous standards and requirements it takes to be qualified to perform plastic surgery.
A board-certified plastic surgeon demonstrates a high level of training and education through their techniques, safety, ethical approach to surgeries being performed, and patient satisfaction. Unfortunately, anybody, no matter what their medical specialty, can wear a white coat and call themselves a cosmetic surgeon. However, they may not be trained to the same standards to perform cosmetic procedures as a board-certified plastic surgeon. A board-certified plastic surgeon (like Dr. Gregory Bland) is held to a higher level of standards regarding their skills, judgments, ethics, knowledge, and more. A board-certified plastic surgeon is not only competent in performing cosmetic procedures, but also in addressing any complications that may occur during and after the procedure.
CLICK HERE for more information and to determine if your plastic surgeon is board certified through the American Board of Plastic Surgery. CLICK HERE to ascertain which board your surgeon belongs to.
About Dr. Gregory Bland: Dr. Bland holds two Doctorate degrees. His first was received in 1981, with a Doctorate in Pharmacy (Pharm.D.). He attended medical school at the prestigious University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) and received his Doctorate in Medicine (M.D.) in 1985 with AOA Honors (a national honor society for medical students).
Dr. Bland completed a full General Surgery Residency at the University of California at San Francisco in 1992, with Board Certification in General Surgery awarded in 1993. After an additional two years training at UCSF, Dr. Bland completed his Plastic Surgery training in 1994. Dr. Bland achieved Board Certification in Plastic Surgery in 1996, with re-certification in 2005 and again in 2016. Dr. Bland is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons as well as the prestigious American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.