The debate over which doctors are best qualified to perform cosmetic surgery — and who gets the best results for patients — has raged for decades. Cosmetic surgery chains, some owned by private equity groups, have been the target of scores of medical malpractice and negligence lawsuits over the past seven years. Jeffrey Swetnam, an Arkansas cosmetic surgeon and president of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, told KFF Health News that plastic surgeons have long sought to beat back competitors. Swetnam said that plastic surgery training focuses on a broad range of reconstructive operations, including cosmetic procedures, while members of his group focus exclusively on cosmetic operations. The American Board of Medical Specialties runs a website for checking a doctor’s board certification in recognized specialties, including plastic surgery.