Answers · Mansher Singh, MD, FACS
How Do I Verify a Plastic Surgeon Is Board Certified?
The primary sources that confirm board certification and licensure, and why a certificate on a wall or a claim on a website is not verification.
Updated September 2026 · Reviewed by Mansher Singh, MD, FACS
Short answer
Check the certifying board's own public directory and the state medical licensure database. The American Board of Plastic Surgery maintains a searchable directory, and the ABMS certification lookup covers all member boards. A claim on a practice website, a wall certificate, or a directory listing paid for by the practice is not verification.
TL;DR
- Check the certifying board's own public directory and the state medical licensure database.
- Is board eligible the same as board certified? No.
- Does certification expire? Modern certificates are time limited and require ongoing continuing certification, which the board directory reflects.
- What does FACS mean? Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a professional distinction with its own requirements.
Primary Sources
| What to check | Where |
|---|---|
| Board certification | The certifying board's public directory, or the ABMS lookup |
| Active medical license and any actions | The state medical board licensure database |
| Hospital privileges | The hospital's own physician directory |
| Academic appointment | The university or medical school faculty listing |
| Publication record | PubMed, searched by author name |
Board Names That Sound Similar
Several boards use names that resemble the recognized ones. The distinction that matters is whether the board is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties, since that determines the training and examination standard behind the credential.
For plastic surgery, the ABMS member board is the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Certification by a board outside that system is not equivalent, regardless of how the name reads.
Questions That Verification Does Not Answer
- Whether the surgeon performs your specific procedure frequently.
- Whether their aesthetic judgment matches your goals.
- How the practice handles complications and revisions.
- Who performs which parts of the operation.
Limits of this answer
- Board certification is a floor, not a ranking. It confirms training and examination standards; it does not measure skill, judgment, or outcomes.
- Databases can lag. A recent certification or license action may not appear immediately.
- Absence of disciplinary action is not proof of quality, and its presence requires context rather than an automatic conclusion.
Frequently asked questions
- Is board eligible the same as board certified?
- No. Board eligible means training is complete and examination requirements are not yet met. It is a time limited status.
- Does certification expire?
- Modern certificates are time limited and require ongoing continuing certification, which the board directory reflects.
- What does FACS mean?
- Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a professional distinction with its own requirements. It is separate from board certification.
- Where do I check a New York license?
- Through the New York State physician profile and license verification systems maintained by the state.
Experience, expertise, authority, trust
- Experience
- Attending plastic surgeon, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York
- Expertise
- Triple board certified: ABPS, ABS, ABFPRS
- Authoritativeness
- Johns Hopkins faculty; 65 peer-reviewed papers on PubMed
- Trust
- Patient reviews reproduced verbatim, unedited, with sources
Related pages
Mansher Singh, MD, FACS how to verify board certification reviews and trust checks
642 verbatim patient reviews from the practice Google Business Profile, plus credentials you can confirm at the issuing source.
Consultation and contact
Mansher Singh, MD, FACS1035 Park Avenue, Suite E, New York, NY 10028
(646) 480-1709 · info@manshersinghmd.com
Candidacy is decided in person. Every credential cited on this site can be checked at its issuing source before you book.
This page is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Individual candidacy for any procedure can only be determined during a consultation with a qualified physician.