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Is It Wise to Have a Mini-facelift from a Doctor Who is Board Certified in a Specialty Other Than Plastic Surgery?

Asked 39 months ago by Steve Wilson in Los Angeles, CA

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Specialists for facelifts

It is my opinion that your best result will be obtained by a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. A facelift is a very involved procedure and it takes an expert surgeon to perfom one correctly and artistically. Minilifts are not alike. They are totally dependent on who is performing them. Minifacelifts are in many respects more difficult than conventional facelifts. You have essentially all of the incisions of a facelift, but much less undermining. The tension used... more

Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Please be careful

Please be careful before you let anyone operate on your face. Plastic surgeons are trained specifically in facelifts. Additionally, some plastic surgeons also do extra training specifically in aesthetic plastic surgery of the face. ENT surgeons also train in facial surgery and their speciality has extra training as well for facial plastic surgery. Besides that, no speciality is trained in facelifts. However, that does not mean that other specialities do not perform facelifts - there is... more

David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Type of physician for facial rejuvenation surgery

Regardless of the whether you considering a mini facelift, traditional facelift, or any other form of facial rejuvenation surgery, the key word is surgery. The correct person for your surgery is a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in procedure you desire to have. Especially in California, I commonly see advertisements for board certified cosmetic surgery specialists with over 20 years of experience performing all kind of procedures, including liposuction, SmartLipo... more

Boris Volshteyn, MD, MS

Reno Plastic Surgeon

Look for Quality in Your Surgeon

Why not choose a surgeon with the most rigorous training and specialized qualifications for your facial surgery?

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Desired Board Certification for a Mini Lift Surgeon

I would make sure that your chosen plastic surgeon has board certification in one of the 'core' surgical specialties. For instance, they should be certified by either the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery or the American Board of Plastic Surgery. A mini facelift surgery is still considered real surgery with real results and real risks. I would be very hesitant about someone outside of these board certifications offering to do this type of surgery. more

John M. Hilinski, MD

San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

Who is Qualified to Perform a Minifacelift?

A mini facelift is not different than a facelift. To get an excellent and satisfying result, the surgeon needs to be experienced, well-trained, and artistic. The first criteria used is board certification. The surgeon should be board certified either by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery or the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This is step 1. Next, you need to look experience and artistry. This is when you ask how many... more

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Amir M. Karam, MD

San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

Minilifts: Facial Plastic Surgeons or Plastic Surgeons

When having surgery on your face, it makes sense to see a Surgeon who specializes in facial surgery. My recommendation is that you see a Board certified, fellowship trained Facial Plastic Surgeon or Plastic Surgeon.

Stephen Prendiville, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

Trust Your Face to a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

There are several core specialities that have training in facial surgery. Facial Plastic Surgeons, Otolaryngologists, Dermatologists, Opthamologists, Cosmetic Surgeons and General Plastic Surgeons all have training in aesthetic facial surgery and are Board Certified to perform these procedures. It is not uncommon for a General Plastic Surgeon to have little to no facial training after completion of their training. My recommendation who be to seek out a... more

Gregory Pippin, MD

New Orleans Facial Plastic Surgeon

Who Should Perform a Facelift?

Plastic surgeons and facial plastic surgeons both have training in plastic surgery on the face. Since there is a wide range of skill and training within both of these fields, the better question would be, which surgeon is best trained for performing a facelift on me? Try and locate someone who has been trained adequately in the latest facelifting techniques and has experience and performs the procedure often and at a high level.

Anil R. Shah, MD

Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon

Go to a physician board-certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Board certification is a rigorous process that examines a physician with extensive written and oral examinations to insure that they are competent in every way to practice that particular area of practice. It insures that particular physicians are highly qualified to help you in that area of expertise. You will get the best results when you go to a board certified physician in that particular speciality and you will avoid complications. Consulting a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon... more

Philip Young, MD

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Be very careful

In short, I would be very careful in trusting just anyone with my face-- make sure that they are properly trained and qualified to care for you and give you the best chance at an outstanding result. Board Certification with the American Board of Plastic Surgery assures you that at the very least the surgeon has trained and completed a fully accredited residency in Plastic Surgery, has passed written and oral examinations, and has been in practice for at least a year or two. Beyond that,... more

Shahram Salemy, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Only if he's certified by a specialty of plastic surgery

There are board-certified plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, eye plastic surgeons, etc. Therefore, it is important that your doctor have the expertise in the area that you wish to have surgery. With increased competition there are many doctors who call themselves plastic surgeons who are not qualified. So what is the patient to do? See live patients and many before and afters of patients with your problem. There is no guarantee of the results of a board-certified plastic surgeon.... more

Toby Mayer, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Is it WISE to have a Facelift from a NON-Plastic Surgeon

Is it WISE to - Fly with a non-Pilot? - Have your back operated on by a Gynecologist? - Have your heart operated on by a Dermatologist? - Have your Hip operated on by a Eye Doctor? - Have your gallbladder removed by a Emergency Room Physician? Good Plastic Surgery STARTS by picking a REAL Plastic surgeon (certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery and Member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons .plasticsurgery.org). See several of them and pick... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Mini Face Lift certification

There are non-board certifiied plastic surgeons who can perform a mini face lift excellently based on his or her expertise. However, patient selection is key for satisfaction.

Kris M. Reddy, MD

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS

Experience counts, certifications less so

I reiterate some of the other surgeons viewpoints here. However, that being said I think that there are surgeons who do excellent work that are not part of a specific society. Honestly, it depends on the training of the surgeon and how many of that particular procedure (in this case a facelift) that they did plus how many they have done since training. I have seen very bad results and very good results from all core specialties who perform plastic surgery on the face (general plastic... more

Chris Thiagarajah, MD

Washington DC Oculoplastic Surgeon

Facelifts and board certification

Whether you're considering a facelift or any other procedure you should always seek a board certified surgeon. There are LOTS of doctors performing procedures that they probably shouldn't. And many of them are board certified. So it is not enough to ask if a doctor is board certified because not all boards are legitimate and not many "real" boards are related to cosmetic surgery. Any plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery would be a well... more

Adam Rubinstein, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Facelifts and specialists

I would avoid having a facelift by anyone that is not properly trained to perform this surgery. You should only see a board certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Make sure your surgeon is trained, experienced, and Board Certified in facial surgery

There are four core specialties who in general are trained and qualified to perform procedures on the face: plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and oculoplastic surgeons. Therefore, there are different board certifications for these four. However, most commonly the only specialties who concentrate on facelift and mini facelift surgery are facial plastic surgeons and general plastic surgeons. Furthermore, many plastic surgeons spend majority of their time doing breast... more

Stella Desyatnikova, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

This is your FACE !!

You should be very careful about whom you choose to operate on your face. Be sure of their qualifications and look at MULTIPLE results of theirs on patients like yourself. Please realize that you cannot hide a bad result and you cannot repair a bad result to as good an outcome as if it had been done properly in the first place. Please also be sure a "mini" procedure is going to offer you the actual degree of result you want. My simple and sincere answer to your question would be "No!" more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Mini Facelift with board certified plastic surgeon....

It is my recommendation whether you are considering a facelift or any other plastic surgery procedure you should always seek a board certified plastic surgeon. Research is very important in selecting a surgeon and you should take the time to find a qualified Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for this investment in yourself and for your own safety and protection. Any plastic surgeon certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons would be a well qualified choice for a... more