Dr. Nilay Shah, an authoritative figure in the field of plastic surgery is an ABPS board-certified plastic surgeon. Heartiest congratulations to Dr. Shah on achieving this extraordinary milestone in his much illustrious career.

It is of utmost importance for a plastic surgeon to be board-certified as it means that the doctor has not only undergone extensive and rigorous training in both facial and body procedures, it also means that he/she is well equipped to handle any emergency that is likely to arise during the procedure. The certification also spells out the plastic surgeon’s “technical skill and aesthetic judgment”.

Dr. Nilay Shah- The Journey

Dr. Shah is a competent plastic surgeon who specializes in surgical and non-surgical facial aesthetic and body contouring procedures. He is also the founder of Shah Plastic Surgery, a facility that is known for its high standards and aesthetic sensibilities.

Dr. Shah completed five and half years of medical school and internship in India and then headed to the United States to pursue his aspirations to become an ace plastic surgeon. In the States, he went through another 5 years of rigorous training in general surgery from an Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; and world-famous Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona.

His particular interest in minimally invasive surgery led Dr. Shah to involve himself in minimally invasive surgery research at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida and then become a post-doctoral research fellow at the Ohio State University in Minimally Invasive Surgery. He has several publications apart from a book chapter on the subject to his credit.

After that, he went on to do his residency training. It was during the time when he was doing his general surgery training that Dr. Nilay Shah found his distinct attraction towards plastic surgery.

He thereafter pursued his calling and went on to complete a 3–year program of highly competitive plastic surgery residency training from the University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas. While doing his training, Dr. Shah realized a keen interest in facial plastic surgery. So he accomplished aesthetic surgery fellowship from the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mt. Sinai, New York, New York.

He stayed in New York with his family and founded his own plastic surgery clinic that is primarily concerned with aesthetic medicine and aesthetic surgery.

What is a board-certified plastic surgeon?

A board certified surgeon-

• Has a certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). This is the only board that is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, to certify doctors in every aspect of plastic and reconstructive procedures.
• An ABPS certification requires a minimum of 5 years of approved surgical training including a plastic surgery residency
• ABPS certification also requires the candidate to pass extensive written and oral exams in plastic surgery
• Once a physician is a board certified, they need to maintain the certification by continuing their education, cohering to a strict code of ethics and getting themselves comprehensively trained in all aspects of plastic surgery
• Board-certified surgeons can only operate in accredited facilities

How to recognize a board-certified surgeon?

If you are considering going for plastic surgery, you need to ask a lot of questions to the plastic surgeon in question, before placing yourself in their care. One of your first queries should be whether he or she is a certified plastic surgeon by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

You should also ask to see before and after pictures of patients on whom the doctor has performed procedures. This will give you an idea of what to expect by the end of your session.

Apart from that, you should be clear about where the plastic surgeon intends to conduct the procedure. It is only the board-certified plastic surgeons who are authorized to perform surgeries in surgical facilities that are accredited, state-licensed, or Medicare-certified.

Besides that, you can also easily visit the website of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Here, you can look up the name of your surgeon and confirm whether he or she is certified.

A plastic surgeon’s education is quite extensive and is solidly founded in all aspects of anatomy and physiology. Moreover, the training they receive covers a thorough understanding of all body systems, including ventilation, circulation and fluid and electrolyte balance, all of which is crucial to patient safety. Dr. Nilay Shah, with years of knowledge gathering and experience in the field of plastic surgery, is now a board-certified surgeon. His understanding of these surgeries which may lead to life-altering complications makes him one of the best doctors in the field.