Cosmetic Surgery Recognized by AMA as a Self-Designated Practice

CHICAGO -- The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) announces that the American Medical Association (AMA) has recently approved its request to include the specialty of cosmetic surgery to their list of self-designated practices. This recent declaration will now permit cosmetic surgeons to select cosmetic surgery as their self-designated practice specialty.

"This recent decision by the American Medical Association is not only exciting, but groundbreaking. Cosmetic surgeons all over the world will now be able to identify themselves for who they are: cosmetic surgeons," said Robert F. Jackson, MD, president of the AACS.

In addition to cosmetic surgeons being offered the opportunity to select cosmetic surgery as their self-designated practice specialty, all literature and communication materials from the AMA will list cosmetic surgery as a recognized practice of medicine.

Those practicing cosmetic surgery who wish to change their specialty designation with the American Medical Association can either do so online at http://ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/4080.html or by calling the AMA's Unified Service Center at (800) 621-8335.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery is a professional medical society whose members are dedicated to patient safety and physician education in cosmetic surgery. Most members of the AACS are dermatologic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, head and neck surgeons, general surgeons, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, plastic surgeons or ocular plastic surgeons - all of whom specialize in cosmetic surgery. AACS is an organization that represents a group of cosmetic surgeons in the American Medical Association through its seat in the AMA House of Delegates.