Considering facial plastic surgery? You’re not alone. With advancements in surgical techniques and a growing focus on self-care, more people are exploring ways to enhance their appearance and boost their confidence. Other than making the personal decision to undergo facial plastic surgery, your choice of a plastic surgeon is the most important decision you’ll make.
In this post, I’ll answer some of the most common questions about how to make that decision and why it depends on the type of surgery you’re considering.
What’s the Difference Between a Plastic Surgeon and a Facial Plastic Surgeon?
Advice about choosing a plastic surgeon often begins with the recommendation to choose one who is board-certified. That’s true if you’re considering body contouring or breast enhancement surgery and select a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. However, facial plastic surgery requires a surgeon with extensive training focused exclusively on the face.
Dr. Brenton Koch and I are both certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. We’ve dedicated our careers to facial plastic surgery in a way that sets us apart from general plastic surgeons.
How To Choose the Best Facial Plastic Surgeon
Besides ensuring that your choice is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, other factors that can help you find the best facial plastic surgeon include:
Experience and training: Check the surgeon’s qualifications and how often they perform the specific procedure you’re considering.
Patient reviews: Check reputable, independent reviews posted on Healthgrades, Google, RealSelf, and others to see what previous patients say about their experiences and results.
Your consultation: Do you feel comfortable discussing your concerns with the surgeon? Do you get all of your questions answered? Trust your gut feelings.
Before and after photos: It’s helpful to find people whose appearances are similar to yours and decide if the results match your goals.
What Concerns Do You Want Treated?
Even among board-certified facial plastic surgeons, some specialize in certain procedures more than others. Rhinoplasty, for example, is probably the most technically demanding procedure performed by plastic surgeons. You should look for a facial plastic surgeon who regularly performs the procedure, also called a nose job. During your consultation, ask how many rhinoplasty procedures they perform in a month.
Choosing a facial plastic surgeon doesn’t have to be stressful. Doing your research and following the information provided in this post will help you feel confident in your selection. Our facial plastic surgeons are ready to discuss your concerns.
Does the Surgeon Perform Multiple Techniques?
A top-notch facial plastic surgeon tailors the technique used for a facelift, eyelid surgery, or any other procedure to the unique needs of each patient. There is no such thing as a cookie-cutter approach to facial plastic surgery. At our practice, our surgeons often perform a mini facelift (or S-Lift). This is a less invasive alternative to a deep plane facelift, which they use for patients with more advanced signs of aging. Or, they’ll combine a facelift with a neck lift. (You can read more about the differences between a facelift and a neck lift in this blog post.)
What If You Want To Combine Procedures?
The best facial plastic surgeons often combine procedures during a single operation, including both surgical and nonsurgical treatments, because signs of aging usually occur in more than one area of the face. An excellent surgeon will also tell patients when they don’t need surgery and recommend a nonsurgical approach to their concerns if that’s all they need.
Choosing a facial plastic surgeon doesn’t have to be stressful. Doing your research and following the information provided in this post will help you feel confident in your selection. Our facial plastic surgeons are ready to discuss your concerns. You can request a consultation using the online form or call our practice at (515) 277-5555 to schedule an appointment.
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