Are you a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons?
Looking up a surgeon in the society's directory
The society keeps a directory of its members on its own site, so the quickest way to settle the question is to look the surgeon up there instead of relying on a badge in an office. Asking the office directly adds a second check.
Membership next to training and follow-up
Membership is one fact about a surgeon, not the whole picture. Training, board status and how long a surgeon follows patients also matter when you look at long-term results. Treat each of them as a separate question.
For background on ear surgery, the society has its own ear surgery page. Two hospital systems also publish plain descriptions, a university health system's ear reshaping page and a hospital system's ear pinning page covering surgery, recovery and risks. Read them to prepare questions for your consultation.
Society membership, board status and follow-up
- Ask the office whether the surgeon is a member and of which societies.
- Ask how to verify that answer on the society's own site.
- Ask separately about training, board status and follow-up after surgery.
Badges versus results years later
A membership badge does not cause a long-term result. Ask instead what a surgeon's patients look like years later.