American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Requires New Fellow Members to Operate in Accredited Ambulatory Facility by January 2007

CHICAGO -- The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery has announced that as of January 2007, all new fellow applicants for membership in the academy must show evidence that they are scheduling cosmetic surgery patients in an accredited ambulatory facility. This accreditation may include but is not limited to the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, state healthcare agencies or Medicare-approved facilities.

"This is an excellent example of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery maintaining their mission of patient safety," said President-Elect Claude H. Crockett Jr., MD. "The health and welfare of our patients is our number one priority and we are proud of this recent decision."

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 the organization that represents all cosmetic surgeons in the American Medical Association through its seat in the AMA House of Delegates.

Source: American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery