Dr. Bakala

FAQ’s

How To Choose A Surgeon

Dr. C. Bakala MD FRCSC is Board Certified in, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery in Canada and the USA.

He is also Board Certified, by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Board certification is just the beginning.  A patient choosing a surgeon for facial plastic surgery must take the responsibility for asking questions and choosing the right surgeon.  Make sure the surgeon you choose is one you can relate to and who answers your questions.  Also, not every surgeon performs every facial plastic surgery procedure.  Some focus on specific procedures.  Make sure your surgeon is experienced in the procedure you want and regularly performs that procedure.  NO medical or surgical certification board, including ABFPRS, guarantees competency or results.

You can be guaranteed that Dr. C Bakala has met the rigorous medical  board standards of practice in the specialties he practices.

What kind of physician is qualified to perform cosmetic surgery?

While many physicians can perform non-surgical or minor surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox® injections, some laser treatments, or the removal of minor lesions, in British Columbia only a qualified specialist such as a Plastic Surgeon, a Dermatologist with surgical training, or an Ear Nose and Throat Surgeon can perform more major, invasive cosmetic procedures.

Qualified surgical specialists have completed a minimum of five years of study and training in surgery after receiving a medical degree, and successfully passed comprehensive exams to demonstrate their knowledge. Through certification with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, they specifically qualify to perform surgeries. Physicians who hold certification with the Royal College in a surgical field use the initials FRCSC (Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada) after their name and can therefore refer to themselves as surgeons. Dermatologists use the initials FRCPC (Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada) after their name as they are deemed by the Royal College to be physicians not surgeons, and therefore may not refer to themselves as “surgeon.”

What is the non-hospital medical and surgical facilities program (NHMSFP)?

Established in 1987, the Non-Hospital Medical and Surgical Facilities Program (NHMSFP) has the mandate to establish, monitor and ensure standards of practice in private medical and surgical services in BC. Presently, 64 accredited facilities provide a range of services from minor to more complex surgical procedures as approved by the NHMSFP Committee of the College. The mandate and authority of the NHMSF Program is derived from the Health Professions Act and the Bylaws made under the Act.

Non-hospital medical/surgical facilities fall into one of three categories:

Class 1
Provides general anesthesia and major regional anesthesia (epidural, spinal nerve blocks) and may include use of IV sedation and/or analgesia, or local anesthesia only.

Class 2
Provides use of IV sedation and/or analgesia where the patient remains responsive and breathes without assistance.

Class 3
Provides local anesthesia only. May provide oral sedation but not IV sedation/analgesia or inhalants.
Direct oversight of the NHMSF Program is provided by a committee of specialists who are responsible to and report to the Board of the College.

What does ABFPRS certification mean?

Your surgeon’s certification by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery means that:

• You have found a “board-certified facial plastic surgeon”…
• Your surgeon has met the rigorous standards of the ABFPRS…

The ABFPRS Credential signifies that your surgeon:

• Has completed an approved residency after medical school in one of the two surgical specialties focusing on facial plastic surgery (otolaryngology-head and neck surgery or plastic surgery);
• Is double boarded, having earned prior certification in one of those specialties through the American Board of Medical Specialties or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada;
• Has successfully completed a two-day examination;
• Has submitted for peer-review an acceptable record of at least two years’ clinical experience, including operative reports of a minimum 100 facial plastic surgeries;
• Operates in an accredited facility; and
• Holds proper licensure and subscribes to the ABFPRS Code of ethics.

Verification of Certification

To verify your surgeon’s ABFPRS certification, contact the Board office.

ABFPRS 115C South St. Asaph Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

Phone: (703) 549-3223
Fax: (703) 549-3357

www.abfprs.org