Dr.
Thompson has been in plastic surgery private practice since
1974, and is highly respected by his peers. Dr. Thompson
is the Past-President of both the California Society of
Plastic Surgeons and the Los Angeles Society of Plastic
Surgeons. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery
(Plastic) at UCLA and is the current President of the UCLA
Plastic Surgery Society. From 1986 through 1991, Dr. Thompson
served as the Chairman of the Plastic Surgery Section at
Saint John's Hospital in Santa Monica. He is devoted to
the field of plastic surgery, teaching the plastic surgery
residents at UCLA and volunteering his time to treat patients
from the Venice Family Clinic.
Dr. Thompson
has extensive experience in performing the aesthetic procedures
mentioned and is happy to answer all of your questions.
If you should decide to have an operation, you can be assured
that Dr. Thompson and his entire staff will provide you
with the highest quality medical care.
Training
- B.S., M.S.,
M.D.: University of Illinois
- General Surgery
Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN;Los
Angeles County Harbor
General Hospital, L.A., CA
- Plastic Surgery
Residency: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Certification
- American
Board of Surgery, 1971
- American
Board of Plastic Surgery, 1975*
Professional
Organizations
Click
here to view the "Art of Beauty" virtual museum
tour presented by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic
Surgery.
*The American Board of Plastic Surgery is the only certifying
board for plastic surgery recognized by the American Board
of Medical Specialists. A doctor who advertises as a "Plastic
Surgeon," a "Cosmetic Surgeon" or a "Board
Certified" surgeon may or may not be certified by the
American Board of Plastic Surgery. Of special concern to
consumers is the misleading advertising of some doctors
who wish to present themselves as qualified to perform aesthetic
surgical procedures. These physicians will often call themselves
plastic surgeons, even if their training is in another specialty.
They will claim board-certification without telling the
consumer which "board" they have been certified
by. Their certification, if any, may be in another specialty
or by a board not recognized by the American Board of Medical
Specialists.
Many doctors
who perform cosmetic procedures in unlicensed, unaccredited
facilities are not allowed to perform those same procedures
in hospitals because of their lack of credentials. Consumers
should be able to select a surgeon based on informed choice.
They have a right to be fully informed of their doctors'
credentials and what they mean. Physicians have an ethical
responsibility not to misrepresent their training. Unfortunately,
it is very easy for physicians to mislead prospective patients
with official sounding titles and "certifications"
which really provide no assurance of quality.
The American
Board of Plastic Surgery certifies physicians only after
they have completed extensive training and examinations
in plastic surgery. In order to be certified, a physician
must have 1) his/her medical
degree, 2)
a minimum of three years in an approved general surgery
residency, 3) a two to three year residency in an
accredited plastic surgery program, 4)
at least one year of plastic surgery practice, and 5)
passed comprehensive written and oral exams in plastic surgery.
You may find out if a doctor is a Board Certified Plastic
Surgeon by contacting the the American
Society of Plastic Surgeons (1-800-635-0635), American
Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (1-562-799-2356)
or the American Board of Medical Specialists at www.abms.org.
Although your family physician or a friend may be a good
referral source, you should always check your plastic surgeon's
credentials through another source as well.
