We congratulate Houston’s Dr. Ravi Somayazula on being awarded membership to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons!

Dr. Ravi shares his thoughts on this prestigious milestone in his plastic surgery career:

I am thrilled to announce my recently awarded membership to the prestigious American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, otherwise known as ASAPS. Being a part of this means that I am within a small group of plastic surgeons devoted exclusively to advancing the science and art of cosmetic surgery. There are only a few Houston based plastic surgeons who are part of this group. As a young medical student and then as a very tired and hardworking resident/fellow, I aspired for the day in which I was proudly associated with this group of top plastic surgeons. To some, it may simply sound like an association you simply write a yearly check to. But in reality, it is a significantly more of an honor. Being selected as part of this very small group is humbling and means that your peers from around the country think of you as among the best and brightest board-certified plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic surgery. As a member of ASAPS, you are considered highly qualified, experienced and an ethical practitioner. When you are trusting a plastic surgeon with your face or body, choose the very best.

To even be considered, the first step is to be Board Certified and in good standing with the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). This board certification guarantees that your surgeon has completed a minimum of 5 years of surgical training following medical school, including an approved residency/fellowship program in plastic surgery, and has passed both the comprehensive oral and written exams. Board certification qualifies your plastic surgeon to perform reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery of the face and entire body. Many members of the medical community claim to be plastic surgeons, when in fact they do not have those credentials. This includes those that consider themselves cosmetic surgeons. They may possibly just have taken a weekend course, and, to me, that’s just doesn’t cut it when it comes to your safety and results.

Once the surgeon is out in practice, they must work hard to accumulate enough experience performing aesthetic cosmetic surgery in order to be considered for the honor. During the vetting process to becoming a member of ASAPS, a full review of the plastic surgeon’s scope of surgeries is analyzed with a fine-tooth comb to ensure that they are indeed specializing in cosmetic plastic surgery. The plastic surgeons that are part of this society have been carefully screened and vetted by their peers to ensure that they performed hundreds of cosmetic surgical procedures with excellent results in the safest environment possible.

As I’ve said in the past, choosing a plastic surgeon is a big decision…do your research. The most important factor you should look for in a surgeon is your comfort level with them. Do you trust him or her, do you feel that they listen to your needs, are they honest with you, are they realistic about expectations? Other very important factors to consider are also their credentials and memberships. Would you get your hair cut by someone who isn’t a hairstylist with a license? That’s the gamble you take when you choose to have your plastic surgeon performed by someone who is not indeed a plastic surgeon specializing in cosmetic surgery.

I would be happy to see anyone who is interested in plastic surgery at my Houston, Texas office near Memorial, Katy and the Galleria. Our office is beautiful and luxurious, and we cater to your needs as much as we can. Having a little work done does not have to be a stressful process and my staff and I are here to provide the best customer care and results. Call us today at 281-242-1061 to speak to our patient care coordinator and we are looking forward to meeting you and discussing your individual plastic surgery journey.