Cosmetic Surgery Board Certification: SCCP Explained

If you remember one thing from your entire medical tourism research, let it be this: SCCP certification is the single most important credential to verify when choosing a cosmetic surgeon in Colombia.

The Sociedad Colombiana de Cirugía Plástica, Estética y Reconstructiva (SCCP) is Colombia's plastic surgery board — the equivalent of the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) in the United States. SCCP certification means a surgeon has completed the full training pipeline and demonstrated competency through rigorous examination. Not having it means they haven't.

What SCCP Certification Requires

How to Verify SCCP Certification

This takes 30 seconds:

1. Go to sccp.org.co
2. Navigate to the member directory (directorio de miembros)
3. Search by your surgeon's name
4. Verify their membership status is active

If your surgeon's name doesn't appear in the SCCP directory, they are not board-certified in plastic surgery. Period. Regardless of what their website, Instagram, or marketing materials claim.

What SCCP Membership Means in Practice

• Vetted training — The surgeon completed a recognized plastic surgery fellowship at an SCCP-approved training program
• Examined competency — Written, oral, and case review examinations demonstrated knowledge and judgment
• Peer accountability — SCCP members are subject to ethical oversight and can be sanctioned by the society for misconduct
• Continuing education — Members must maintain current knowledge through ongoing education requirements
• Hospital privileges — SCCP members typically hold privileges at accredited hospitals, meaning the hospital has independently vetted their credentials

Related Credentials to Check

SCCP is the primary credential for cosmetic surgery. For other specialties, the equivalent boards in Colombia are:

• Orthopedic surgery: SCCOT (Sociedad Colombiana de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología)
• Ophthalmology: SCO (Sociedad Colombiana de Oftalmología)
• Bariatric surgery: ACOCIB (Asociación Colombiana de Obesidad y Cirugía Bariátrica)
• Dental specialties: Individual specialty societies (prosthodontics, oral surgery, etc.)

International Affiliations

Many SCCP-certified surgeons also hold memberships in international societies, which indicates engagement with the global surgical community:

• ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) — the leading global society
• ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons) — international associate membership
• FILACP (Federación Iberolatinoamericana de Cirugía Plástica) — Latin American federation

These are additional indicators of quality, but SCCP remains the foundational credential. A surgeon with SCCP + ISAPS membership has been vetted by both Colombian and international standards.

Red Flags Related to Credentials

• "Board-eligible" is not "board-certified" — it means they may be in training or haven't passed the examination
• "Certified by the Colombian Medical Board" — all physicians are registered with the medical board. This is a medical license, not a plastic surgery certification. It doesn't indicate specialty training.
• Claims of US training without specifics — "Trained in the US" should mean a named institution, specific fellowship, and verifiable dates. Vague claims are marketing, not credentials.
• Refuses to share certification number — A board-certified surgeon is proud of their credentials and will share verification information immediately.