What is EBOPRAS, and what does it mean for patients?

What does the abbreviation stand for?

EBOPRAS stands for European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. It is a working group of the relevant specialty section of UEMS, the European Union of Medical Specialists. Its purpose is to assess plastic surgery knowledge within a common European framework. The official EBOPRAS introduction explains its role.

Fellow of EBOPRAS, abbreviated FEBOPRAS, is the qualification held by a surgeon who has passed the examination and whose national specialist registration has been verified. “European Board certification” on this website refers to this individual professional qualification.

What does the assessment cover?

There are two stages: a written examination assesses theoretical and clinical knowledge, and an oral examination assesses how that knowledge is applied to clinical problems. The scope extends beyond aesthetic operations to reconstruction, hand surgery, trauma, burns, congenital conditions and breast surgery.

The qualification is therefore useful as a record of a surgeon’s training and knowledge. The current examination structure and scope are described in the official examination rules.

How can you verify İlker Yazıcı’s record?

İlker Yazıcı appears in the official EBOPRAS Fellows list under “Ilker Yazici”. His examination pass and Fellowship award date is recorded as 23 November 2012, with Türkiye as his country of training. Enter “Yazici” in the search field to find the record.

A dated entry in the Turkish Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons’ January 2013 bulletin also records his success in the 2012 oral examination. His other training, academic appointments and scientific work are presented on his CV page.

What can it tell you when choosing a surgeon?

This qualification is verifiable evidence that a surgeon has completed the European examination assessment in addition to national specialist training. A brief abbreviation on a CV becomes a training record whose date and scope you can check.

You can consider it alongside experience with the procedure you are considering, explanations of your options, your individual examination and the follow-up plan. A useful consultation helps you understand the reasons for the proposed plan as well as the qualifications behind it.

Specialist registration, Board qualification and clinic accreditation

A Turkish specialist qualification, the EBOPRAS qualification and an institution’s accreditation are separate records. Passing the EBOPRAS examination does not automatically grant a licence to practise in another country; that depends on the rules of that country. A surgeon’s Fellowship does not mean that their practice is accredited by EBOPRAS.

A professional qualification cannot guarantee an individual surgical result. Training records and the plan developed during your examination provide complementary information.

Questions you can ask during your consultation

To prepare for a consultation, explore the procedures and how 3D planning works. You can send your questions through the contact channels.

• What is your experience and assessment approach for the procedure I am considering?
• Which options are we comparing, and why do you recommend this one?
• Which parts of my expectations are realistic, and where are the limitations?
• How will we plan my follow-up visits and postoperative communication?