Rhinoplasty Q&A

80%

WORTH IT RATING

1,002 Reviews

Ask a Question

View Before and Afters

Average Rhinoplasty Cost: $5,975

Learn about Rhinoplasty

5,047 people and 803 doctors are talking about Rhinoplasty

Get Free Email Updates

Difference Between Facial Plastic Surgeon or Plastic Surgeon and an ENT or Otolaryngologist?

asked 3 months ago by anon
Latest answer by Steven Wallach, MD
Question viewed 450 times

I was wondering what the difference is between an ear nose and throat doctor and a facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon? Can my ENT do my nose job ok if I went to him for a deviated septum?

**Note from RealSelf** Our site is designed to help consumers make confident choices and the below answers have lost this spirit.

To see the criteria RealSelf uses to list a doctor as a Facial Plastic Surgeon, please visit our Professional Policies. Doctors listed as a 'Facial Plastic Surgeon' on RealSelf are eligible to discuss treatments and procedures for any "neck-up" procedures, including those of the face, ear, nose and throat areas. As always, consumers should do their due-diligence in researching an individual doctors experience and credentials when choosing their surgeon.

14 answers to Difference Between Facial Plastic Surgeon or Plastic Surgeon and an ENT or Otolaryngologist?

+10

Fact vs. opinion!

Apparently Dr. Rand & Edelson are just as confused about the differences as most of the public. Worst yet, Dr. Alexander II and Edelson are still using some of the marketing and advertising lines that have been used in the past but most current plastic surgeons and facial plastic surgeons have moved beyond. The "turf wars" are a thing of the past - at least for most part. Wherever there is lots of competition and saturation of doctors you will see some nonsense... more

Shervin Naderi, MD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty Surgeons

ENT doctors (also known as otolaryngologists) have a long history of performing cosmetic and reconstructive rhinoplasty among other cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. We are well versed in all types of nasal disease and well trained in nasal surgery, especially rhinoplasty. The training in otolaryngology- head and neck surgery includes at least a year of general surgery and then four additional years of head and neck surgery. Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery is a... more

Suzanne Kim Doud Galli, MD, PhD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon

Confused? Don't blame you

An otolaryngologist/head & neck surgeon is trained to operate on all structures in the head and neck excluding brains, spines, and eyeballs (in a nutshell). 25% of the board certification exam for otolaryngologists covers facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. The term "ENT" is an abbreviation for an otolaryngologist. Facial plastic & reconstructive surgeons can become board certified as such in one of two ways. First, they can complete an accredited... more

Colin Pero, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drpero.com

The real truth

I would disagree to some extent with Dr. Naderi. You should understand that there is a turf battle between ENT surgeons and plastic surgeons, and plastic surgeons are usually annoyed when docs with ENT training call themselves "plastic surgeons." Most ENT surgeons do a 5 year residency in ENT (otolaryngology). Most Plastic surgeons do a 5 year residency in general surgery (although ENT, urology, and orthopedics are other pathways), and then a 2-3 year residency in... more

John Alexander II, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

ENT, Facial Plastics or Plastic Surgeon

I think that a good rhinoplasty surgeon can come from any one of these backgrounds. I am a bit surprised that you did not have the rhinopalsty performed at the same time as your septal surgery.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Focus on your what your surgeon specializes in

The key is to have your rhinoplasty performed by a surgeon who performs rhinoplasty regularly, with excellent results. You don't want to go to a surgeon who performs rhinoplasty on a very occasional basis, as it is an operation that requires skill, judgement, and learning from one's own operative experiences and results. There are expert board certified otolaryngologists (ENT surgeons), facial plastic surgeons (otolaryngologists or general plastic surgeons with additional... more

Anurag Agarwal, MD
Naples Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facial Plastic, Plastic, ENT or Otolaryngologist?

I expect you are confused, because just about the entire general public is too. When there are overlaping areas of competence between specialties, there is the possibility of conflict. There are several such areas in medicine today. Orthopedics and Neurosurgery interact with spinal surgery, Gastroenterologists and General Surgeons both perform colonoscopies, Sports Medicine and Physiatry are both involved in physiotherapy. And there is for the most part friendly... more

Oakley Smith, MD
Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.droakleysmithrhinoplasty.com

Is it okay for an ENT to do a nose job?

As Dr. Naderi mentioned, an Ear, Nose, Throat doctor (otolaryngologist) is trained to perform surgery of the nose, which may include rhinoplasty (nose jobs). Not all otolaryngologists have this background, however. Facial Plastic surgeons have additional board certification dealing with cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the head, face and neck only. Plastic Surgeons have training that includes the rest of the body (breast, hand, burns, tummy tucks, etc.). Some plastic surgeons focus... more

Thomas A Lamperti, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Nose Job: Great Question, Complicated Answer

Historically speaking, what we describe as "Plastic Surgery" long predates the development of modern medicine, or even the foundation of the United States. Modern Plastic Surgery, or indeed modern Facial Plastic Surgery arose from the great need created by World Wars I and II to treat traumatic defects of the face and body. The Surgeons who were instrumental in developing techniques were General Surgeons, Otolaryngologist-Head and Neck Surgeons, Ophthalmologists, Oral... more

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drprendiville.com

Difference Between Facial Plastic Surgeon or Plastic Surgeon and an ENT or Otolaryngologist?

I have been a plastic and cosmetic surgeon for over 20 years and have seen the marketing claims made by one organization of surgeons claiming superiority over all others. You may still see these ads in magazines and newspapers today, so even though the environment has improved, the turf battle rages on. As a consumer looking to improve your appearance, the one and only factor that should determine how you choose, your plastic and or cosmetic surgeon should be... more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Your ENT may give you the nose of your dreams if he's a good nose job surgeon.

I read your concern: It would have been best if you had your Rhinoplasty Surgery performed at the time of your septoplasty. I nearly always use septal cartilage for tip support (columella-strut) when performing rhinoplasty with tip alterations. I cannot comment on your particular case without seeing your photos. If your ENT is expert at performing nose jobs, this procedure is certainly within his realm of expertise. In my area, there is an ENT that performs many artful... more

Eric M. Joseph, MD
West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.ericmjoseph.com

Difference between facial plastic surgeon and plastic surgeon.

Thank you very much for your question. There is much confusion in the public on this subject . I feel l that I am in a very good position to answer this question as I am both a board certified otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon (ENT) and a board certified plastic surgeon. Let me explain the differences between a plastic surgeon and a facial plastic surgeon. In order to become a plastic surgeon one must complete at least 3 to 5 years of general surgery... more

Donald M. Brown, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Selecting surgeons for plastic surgery

An Otolaryngologist = an ENT = a Facial Plastic Surgeon as long as they have had specialty training in facial aesthetic surgery. If you were happy with your septal surgery and trust your ENT MD and have seen many pictures of their rhinoplasties, then go to them for one.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Plastic surgeon vs ENT

Facial Plastic surgeons are generally ENT surgeons who want to specialize in cosmetic surgery, most of the time on the face, but many also migrate south and will do such things as breast and body work. There is no doubt that there is a turf war over which specialty is better qualified to perform which particular procedure. When it comes to rhinoplasty specifically, both specialties have training that enables them to perform this procedure. I would base my choice on... more