2027 CSAT Self-Assessment Study Guide (48829,48830,48831,48832,48833,48834)
Notice
The ASPS In-Service Exam and its intellectual properties are copyright protected. No portion of the exam or its questions may be utilized without written permission from ASPS.
Description
Educational Overview
This activity has been designed to enhance the participant’s clinical knowledge base of plastic surgery in five clinical component areas:

1) Breast & Cosmetic
2) Comprehensive Integument
3) Craniomaxillofacial
4) Hand & Extremities
5) Core Surgical Principles

It is intended to serve as a study guide in self-assessment format. The contents include a selection of questions, critiqued responses, and references from recent In-Service Examinations. All practice and test questions were reviewed and found to be objective and supported by appropriate review of the literature and align with evidence-based research. Content in this educational activity has been reviewed by peers and professionals to determine that the content is fair, balanced, and unbiased.

With the successful completion of each module, which require a minimum passing score of 75 percent, participants can earn 3 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Participants may choose to study all modules or only those that are educationally relevant to their practice and professional interests. By successfully completing all modules, participants can earn up to 15 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. The contents include a selection of questions, critiqued responses, and references from recent In-Service Examinations.

*Disclaimer
Use of these materials are provided with the understanding that utilization and completion of the questions does not imply or guarantee a successful outcome on future self-assessments or maintenance of certification efforts.

Intended Audience
This activity is intended for plastic surgeons and other healthcare professionals. 

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:
  1. Utilize the most up-to-date information on the core curriculum of plastic surgery to improve patient care and obtain better outcomes in practice
  2. Identify their knowledge base of the five clinical component areas covered: Comprehensive/Integument, Aesthetic and Breast, Craniomaxillofacial, Hand and Extremities and Core Surgical Principles
  3. Establish a benchmark for areas of focus needing further concentrated educational efforts
  4. Formulate a continual learning plan to participate in appropriate educational activities based upon results of this self-assessment activity

Directly provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS®)


Accreditation

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS®) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Designation
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons designates this enduring material for a maximum of 15.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Patient Safety Credit: 5.0
Release Date: 8/31/2026
Purchase Expiration Date: 6/30/2027
Course Expiration Date: 06/30/2028

Scoring and Credits

ASPS is required to set a minimum performance level on activities such as the Comprehensive Self-Assessment Tool and may only award AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ to those learners who meet a minimum performance level. A minimum performance level of 75 percent has been set for this activity. A minimum passing score along with completion of a reflective statement (survey) is necessary to claim credits.


Estimated time to complete this course:
1) Breast & Cosmetic Module: 3 hours
2) Comprehensive Integument Module: 3 hours
3) Craniomaxillofacial: 3 hours
4) Hand & Extremities: 3 hours
5) Core Surgical Principles: 3 hours
ASPS In-Service Exam Committee
Disclosures
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) requires all instructors, planners, reviewers, managers, and other individuals in a position to control or influence the content of an activity to disclose all relevant financial relationships or affiliations. All identified conflicts of interest must be resolved and the educational content thoroughly vetted by ASPS for fair balance, scientific objectivity, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations. The ASPS also requires faculty/authors to disclose when off-label/unapproved uses of a product are discussed in a CME/CE activity or included in related materials.

Disclaimer: All relevant financial relationships for planners, faculty, and others in control of content (either individually or as a group) are reviewed by the ASPS Continuing Education Committee and have been mitigated, if applicable. 


ASPS 2026 In-Service Exam Committee

Devra Becker, MD, Overall Chair

Jeff Larson, MD, Overall Vice-Chair

Comprehensive

Hand and Lower Extremity

Craniomaxillofacial

Breast and Cosmetic

Core Surgical Principles

Umar Choudry, MD, Chair

Alexander Spiess, MD, Chair

Alexander Lin, MD, Chair

Thomas Fiala, MD, MBA, CPE, Chair

J. Gui Christiano, MD, FACS, Chair

Stephanie Bray, MD
Abigail Chaffin
Manish Champaneria, MD
Angela Cheng, MD
Jared Davis, MD
Ashleigh Francis, MD
Noopur Gangopadhyay, MD

Al Hassanein, MD, MMSc, FACS
Mary Lester, MD
Arash Momeni, MD
Marilyn Ng, MD
Joseph Ricci, MD
Farooq Shahzad, MD
Geoffrey Sisk, MD
Klara Sputova, MD

Rheena Bhatt, MD
Christie Bialowas, MD
Avery Capone, MD
Andrew Chen, MD, FACS
Alexander Davit, III, MD
Ashish Francis, MD
Paul Ghareeb, MD
Steven Haase, MD
Randy Hauck, MD
Amy Kite, MD
Amber Leis, MD, FACS
John Roberts, MD
Gary F. Rogers, MD
Simon Talbot, MD
Jingnesh Unadkat, MD
Eric Wang, MD

Brian Andrews, MD
Jonathan Black, MD
Jesse Goldstein, MD
Matthew M. Hanasono, MD
Anand Kumar, MD
Kerry Latham, MD
Jonathan Lee, MD, MPH
Renata Maricevich, MD
Clinton Morrison, MD
Gregory Pearson, MD
Gary F. Rogers, MD
S. Alex Rottgers, MD
Anil Shetty, MD
Peter Taub, MD
June Wu, AB, MD

Saied Asfa, MD, FACS
John Bauer, MD
Devra Becker, MD
Marc Bisseck, MD
Francis Collini, MD
Jeffery Flagg, MD
Amir Ghaznavi, MD
Lawrence Glassman, MD
Eric Halvorson, MD
Yaron Hazani, MD
Sumesh Kaswan, MD
Christian Kauffman, MD
Michele Manahan, MD, MBA, FACS
Cindy McCord, MD
Andrew McGregor, MD
Nicole Nemeth, MD
William Reynolds, MD
Sachin Shridharani, MD, FACS
Shruti Tannan, MD
Cindy Wu, MD

Richard Baynosa, MD
Michael Chu, MD
Julia Corcoran, MD
Kristopher Day, MD, FACS
Brian Gander, MD
Darrin Hubert, MD
Tara Huston, MD
Jeff Larson, MD
Brett Michelotti, MD
Oren Mushin, MD
Lauren Nigro, MD
Christina Vargas, MD
Howard Wang, MD
Nicholas Webster, MD
Haig Yenikomashian, MD


Disclosures of all Chairs, Speakers, Authors, Moderators, Reviewers, Committee Members, and other appropriate individuals:

 Brian Andrews, MD

OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: KLS Martin - Other - Financially Compensated

 Saied Asfa, MD

OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Valley Health Plan-Credential Committee - Board - Financially Compensated

 Richard Baynosa, MD

AFFILIATIONS: Board of Directors and Immediate Past President, Mountain West Society of Plastic Surgeons Associate Editor, Plastic Surgery News Chair, ASPS Finance and Investments Committee Nominating Committee, ASRM; OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Allergan/Abbvie - Consultant - Not Financially Compensated, TelaBio - Consultant - Not Financially Compensated, RTI Surgical - Consultant - Not Financially Compensated, Motiva/Establishment Labs - Consultant - Financially Compensated;

 Devra Becker, MD

AFFILIATIONS: Board member: ACEPS, ASMS FACE: section editor of journal;
OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Lazurite, LLC - Other - Not Financially Compensated,
Push2Spin - Other - Not Financially Compensated

 Reena Bhatt, MD

OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Axogen - Independent - Financially Compensated

 Stephanie Bray, MD

AFFILIATIONS: ACPA - Program committee member
ACEPS - Program committee member, curriculum committee member
ASPS – In-Service Exam committee member, resident education committee member, program committee member

 Avery Capone, MD

AFFILIATIONS: Officer and part-owner, Shadyside Surgi-Center ambulatory surgery center;
OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Shadyside Surgi-Center, ambulatory surgery center - Officer - Not Financially Compensated

 Abigail Chaffin, MD

AFFILIATIONS: Chair, Subcouncil of State and Regional Societies ASPS 2024-2025 and Board of Directors Member of ASPS Sept 2025 - Sept 2026; Vice Chair, Subcouncil of State and Regional Societies ASPS 2023-2024; Board of Trustees SESPRS  June 2021- June 2024. Ex Officio Board member SESPRS June 2025 - June 2026. Chair - Research in Education Committee of ACEPS, September 2024-present; Co-Chair - Research in Education Committee of ACEPS, 2021-2024.; OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Aroa Biosurgery - Consultant - Financially Compensated, Urgo Medical North America - Consultant - Financially Compensated; OTHER: Aroa Biosurgery - Consultant and speaker
Urgo Medical North America - Consultant and speaker;

 Manesh Champaneira, MD

OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Kerecis - Speakers Bureau Member - Financially Compensated,
MiMedx - Speakers Bureau Member - Financially Compensated

 Angela Cheng, MD

AFFILIATIONS: I am on the editorial board for Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery and Aesthetic Surgery Journal-Open Access. I serve on the membership committee for the WSRM (World Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery). I serve on the Zamboni committee (visiting professor) for ASRM (American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery). I am the Chair of the Communications Committee for ACEPS (American Council of Educators in Plastic Surgery). I am on the Research and Education Committee for AAPS (American Association of Plastic Surgery).

 Julia Corcoran, MD

AFFILIATIONS: American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons (Now ACEPS) - finished board / officer service in May 2023; OTHER: Angel investment in private start up - Immersive Touch - which provides virtual surgical planning services. With sale of company to venture capital in June 2025, have received back approximately 80% of original investment after holding said investment for 7 years.

 Jared Davis, MD

AFFILIATIONS: Editor - Annals of Plastic Surgery, EPlasty; OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Integra LifeSciences - Consultant - Financially Compensated

 Thomas Fiala, MD

AFFILIATIONS: Section Editor - Aesthetic Surgery Journal; Chair - Finance & Investment Committee, The Aesthetic Society; Chair - Cosmetic Section, In-Service Exam Committee, and member of L3E exam creation committee.

 Brian Gander, MD

AFFILIATIONS: ASSH, Member; ACEPS, Member; OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Midwest Mobile Wound Care - Director - Financially Compensated

 Lawrence Glassman, MD

AFFILIATIONS: ASPS Chair Life Long Learning Exercise in Aesthetic Surgery; ASPS In-Service Exam committee member Cosmetic and Breast (Past Chair); Past ASPS In-Service Exam Committee Overall Chair

 Al Hassanein, MD

INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS: Solventum allowed use of wound vac devices for research with a materials transfer agreement through my institution Indiana University

 Darrin Hubert, MD

AFFILIATIONS: Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery Foundation of Virginia board member / treasurer (non-profit my partner and I founded to help facilitate doing medical mission work); Physician Shareholder in Stony Point Surgery Center until November 2024, an ambulatory surgery center in Richmond, VA

 Tara Huston, MD

AFFILIATIONS: Past President, Northeastern Society Plastic Surgeons;
OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Allergan - Consultant - Financially Compensated; RTI - Consultant - Financially Compensated; Integra - Consultant - Financially Compensated; Establishment Labs - Consultant - Financially Compensated

 Christian Kauffman, MD

OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: RTI Surgical - Consultant - Financially Compensated;
INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS: The Bucknell Geisinger Research Initiative; $93,230; Optimization and Patient Improvement Process for Specialty Pediatrics, such as Autism & Developmental Medicine and Cleft Managment; PIs - Joseph Wilck, PhD and Cora Taylor, PhD; The Bucknell Geisinger Research Initiative; $19,922; Single point incremental forming for fabrication of patient-specific orbital floor implants; PIs - Elizabeth Mamros, PhD and Christian Kauffman, MD

 Kerry Latham, MD

OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: I teach for AO and serve on the Board (travel and honorarium funded by DPS) - Board - Financially Compensated

 Amber Leis, MD

AFFILIATIONS: Membership in Professional Societies:
8/2022 – present World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (WSRM)
4/2022 – present American Association of Plastic Surgeons (AAPS)
1/2021 – present American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgeons (ASRM)
9/2020 – present Pediatric Hand Surgery Workgroup
1/2019 – present American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH)
9/2019 – present Plexus Nexus Pediatric Brachial Plexus Injury Workgroup
10/2018 – present American College of Surgeons
9/2017 – present American Council of Educators in Plastic Surgeons (ACEPS)
3/2017 – present American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
1/2017 – present American Society of Peripheral Nerve (ASPN)
1/2017 – present American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS)
6/2008 – present American Medical Association
9/2015 – 5/2025 Orange County Society of Plastic Surgeons
5/2009 – 5/2025 California Society of Plastic Surgeons (CSPS)
National Panels, Committees, Boards:
9/2024 – present ACEPS Chair of the Council of Program Directors
7/2024 – present Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Review
Committee for Plastic Surgery
5/2024 – 5/2026 ACEPS Co-Chair Resident Selection Committee
5/2024 – 5/2025 CSPSERF President
2/2024 – 5/2024 ASSH Annual Meeting Reconfiguration Workgroup
1/2024 – 1/2026 ASRM Junior Member at Large
11/2023 – present American Board of Plastic Surgery Oral Board examiner (examined in
2023, 2024)
10/2023 – 10/2026 ASPS Ethics Committee California Representative
10/2023 – 9/2025 ASSH Adrian E. Flatt Residents & Fellows Conference Committee
1/2023 – 1/2025 AAHS Annual Meeting Educational Program Committee
9/2023 – 9/2024 ASPS Women Plastic Surgeons Steering Committee
5/2023 – 5/2025 ACEPS Nominating Committee
5/2023 – 5/2025 CSPS Co-Chair of Communications Committee
1/2023 – 1/2025 ASRM Visiting Professor Committee
9/2022 – 9/2025 ASSH Complus Manus Committee
5/2022 – 5/2024 CSPSERF Vice President
5/2022 – 5/2024 ACEPS Co-Chair of Communications Committee
5/2022 – 5/2023 ACEPS Research in Education Committee
4/2022 – 4/2024 AAPS Ethics Committee
9/2021 – 9/2024 ASSH Young Members Steering Committee
5/2021 – 5/2026 CSPS Council Member from the South
5/2021 – 5/2024 CSPS PD Liaison to the Executive Committee
9/2020 – 9/2025 ASPS In-Service Examination Hand & Lower Extremity Subcommittee
9/2020 – present ASPS Annual Meeting Educational Program Committee
5/2020 – 5/2025 ACEPS Mentoring Committee

 Mary Lester, MD

INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS: IU received an educational grants in the form of microsurgical anastomosis kits from Zimmer-Biomet for $3,114.00 on 12/13/19 and $3,460.00 on 07/05/23.

 Michele  Manahan, MD

AFFILIATIONS: AAPS, AMA, ASRM, The Aesthetic Society, MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, Baltimore City Medical Society, ACS, ACEPS, American Board of Plastic Surgery, PRS journal, PRS-GO journal; INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS: None in which I am directly named, there may be institutional or departmental funds through grants of which I am unaware

 Cindy McCord, MD

AFFILIATIONS: In-Service Exam Committee, Membership Committee, Women Aesthetic Surgeons; OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Cigna - Director - Not Financially Compensated,
EviCore - Director - Financially Compensated

 Arash  Momeni, MD

AFFILIATIONS: Associate Editor - Annals of Plastic Surgery; Editorial Board Member - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery; Microsurgery; European Journal of Plastic Surgery; Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation; Orthoplastic Surgery; Handchirurgie, Mikrochirurgie, Plastische Chirurgie; Annals of Surgical Oncology; OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: AxoGen - Consultant - Financially Compensated,
Evergen - Consultant - Financially Compensated, Tiger Aesthetics - Consultant - Financially Compensated

 Lauren Nigro, MD

OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Integra / DuraSorb - Speakers Bureau Member - Financially Compensated

 Gregory Pearson, MD

AFFILIATIONS: ACPA board of director, ASMS board of director, section editor for CPCJ, associate eection editor FACE,

 S. Alex Rottgers, MD

INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS: 2023 Validation of artificial intelligence in assessing hypernasality in patient with velopharyngeal dysfunction
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation IRG Pilot Research Grant
Award: $29,146.15
Role: Co-Principle Investigator
Percent Effort: 0%
2025 3D Modeling of Abdominal Vasculature for Planning of Esophageal Replacement Surgery
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation Shark Tank Grant
Award: $8,750
2025-2028 Developing artificial intelligence for assessment of hypernasality in patients with velopharyngeal dysfunction
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation Institutional Research Awards Program (IRAP)
Award: $200,000
Role: Co-Principle Investigator
Percent Effort: 0%

 Farooq Shahzad, MD

AFFILIATIONS: ASPS In-Service Exam committee: vice chair; ASPS Curriculum Development committee: chair; AAP section on surgery annual program committee

 Sachin Shridharani, MD

AFFILIATIONS: ASPS, ASAPS, ACS, NYSSPS, NYRSPS, ASJ, PRS, NESPS, PSRC;
OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Allergan - Consultant - Financially Compensated; Galderma - Consultant - Financially Compensated; Prollenium - Consultant - Financially Compensated; Raziel - Consultant - Financially Compensated; Apyx Medical - Consultant - Financially Compensated; Revance - Consultant - Financially Compensated; Tiger Aesthetics - Consultant - Financially Compensated

 Geoffrey Sisk, MD

AFFILIATIONS: Editorial Board - Annals of Surgical Oncology; Committee Member - ASPS (Ethics Committee, Annual Meeting Program Committee, EdNet Committee Working Group Vice Chair); Committee Member - ASRM (Ex Officio Chair of Young Microsurgeons Group, Annual Meeting Program Committee)

 Simon Talbot, MD

AFFILIATIONS: Massachusetts Society of Plastic Surgeons (Secretary)
American Society for Reconstructive Trasnplantation (President Elect)
Brigham and Women's Hospital Physicians' Organization (Board Member)
Case Reports in Plastic and Hand Surgery (Associate Editor);
OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Six Therapeutics - Advisory Committee Member - Financially Compensated, Tissium - Consultant - Financially Compensated, Neuraptive - Consultant - Financially Compensated, Moral Injury of Healthcare - Director - Financially Compensated; OTHER: Position as Assoc CMO for Brigham and Women's Hospital.

 Shruti Tannan, MD

AFFILIATIONS: ASPS – In-Service Exam committee; NCSPS - secretary, also chair of membership committee, Aesthetic Society

 Peter Taub, MD

AFFILIATIONS: ASPS, ACEPS, NYRSPS

 Eric Wang, MD

AFFILIATIONS: California Society of Plastic Surgeons – Council; Auditor from South
CSPSERF – VP; local venue committee; ASSH - Self assessment exam committee, Young Members Steering committee, Courses and Meetings committee; ASPS - Oral Board Review Course Faculty; WSRM – Member; ASPN – Member; ASRM - Member;
OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: OrthoCell - Consultant - Not Financially Compensated; Trimed - Consultant - Financially Compensated; Tissium - Consultant - Financially Compensated;
INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS: Neuraptive Therapeutics, Inc - Participation in multicenter Phase 3 RCT

 Cindy Wu, MD

AFFILIATIONS: Clinical Editor for the Aesthetic Surgery Journal and Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum; In Service Exam Writing Committee Member, Cosmetic Subcomittee;
OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS: Allergan - Consultant - Financially Compensated

 June Wu, MD

AFFILIATIONS: I was paid as an expert witness by Panitch Schwarze (law firm) in a patent infringement case. There is no relationship between this consulting work and my work on the in service committee.; INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS: NIH (NHLBI); DOD;
OTHER: I was a consultant for the law firm (Panitch Schwarze: Intellectual Property Law )on a patent case. this relationship ended after Dec 2024.

 Haig Yenikomashian, MD

AFFILIATIONS: Aftercare committee, American Burn Association Research Committee, American Council of Educators in Plastic Surgery; INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS: Grant No. 90DPBU0007; Agency: National Institute of Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research a center within the Administration of Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services; Project Title: Southern California Burn Model System; A multi-year patient reported outcomes study to help reduce disability in burn survivors. In addition to contributing to a national database, our site-specific study is to look at the effects of laser therapy on burn scars. We are also leading a multi-center project on opioid use after discharge.; Principal Investigator; National Institute of Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research a center within the Administration of Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services Southern California Burn Model System Grant.



With the exception of those indicated above, the Chairs, Authors, Reviewers, Committee Members, Volunteers, and Staff involved with developing and producing the 2026 In-Service Exam have indicated that they have no conflicts of interest relating to the activity to disclose.

CME Committee/Staff: ASPS CME Committee reviewers/Education staff members have no relevant financial relationships or affiliations to disclose.

The management, discussion and recommended answers for this self-assessment product represent the combined opinions of the authors and reviewers. They are not endorsed by nor do they constitute a standard of practice of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

© 2026 American Society of Plastic Surgeons®. All rights reserved.

Summary
Availability:
Expires on Jun 30, 2028
Credit Offered:
15 CME Credits
5 Patient Safety Credits
Contains: