{"id":10951,"date":"2022-08-17T09:32:53","date_gmt":"2022-08-17T16:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/?p=10951"},"modified":"2022-08-17T09:33:02","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T16:33:02","slug":"how-to-choose-best-surgeon-for-cosmetic-procedure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/how-to-choose-best-surgeon-for-cosmetic-procedure","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose the Best Plastic Surgeon for Your Procedure"},"content":{"rendered":"

Say you want to get a rhinoplasty<\/a>. You schedule a consultation with:<\/p>

  1. A facial plastic surgeon<\/li>
  2. A dermatologic surgeon<\/li>
  3. A plastic surgeon<\/li><\/ol>

    It’s not meant to be a trick question—but it sure feels like one. The overlap between the different specialties within aesthetic medicine makes researching plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures and choosing the best provider all the more complicated. Below, a demystification of surgical specialties, subspecialties and doctor-training requirements, plus more helpful information on how to choose the best plastic surgeon.<\/p>

    Look into credentials<\/strong><\/h2>

    Make sure any surgeon you’re considering is board-certified in their specialty (The American Board of Medical Specialties recognizes 24 specialties, which you can find here<\/a>). The board certifies a surgeon based on important, specific criteria like their operative record, experience, credentials and background. It is particularly important to research a provider’s qualifications and board certification, because doctors may be performing surgeries that veer from their formal training, such as an internalist doing plastic surgery procedures such as breast or butt augmentations—shocking, right?! (To that point, one potential red flag is doctors who call themselves cosmetic surgeons or are certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, since this is NOT recognized by the previously mentioned American Board of Medical Specialties.)<\/p>

    In the case of plastic surgery, you’ll want to ensure the doctor is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and\/or the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. It also bears mentioning that board certifications are different than memberships to various organizations, though it may be worth inquiring about these as well. For example, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is a well-respected organization with high standards and criteria for their members, though it is not a certifying organization.<\/p>

    Find Doctors Near You<\/a><\/div>

    Understand the differences between the specialties<\/strong><\/h2>

    The training involved in each surgical specialty can serve as an indication of the type of surgery the doctor’s likely do (although there’s no hard and fast rule). The most obvious case is dermatologic surgery, in which surgeons begin with dermatology training. “Dermatologic surgery covers skin and soft tissue—anything that is underneath the skin and above the muscle,” explains Dr. Misbah Khan<\/a>, a dermatologic surgeon in New York City who specializes in revision procedures. Anything that involves bone or muscle, such as rhinoplasty (a bone surgery) and tummy tucks<\/a> (which are under the muscle) is not typically involved. The only exception is eyelid and serious skin-cancer surgeries, in which the surgeon cuts the muscle; these cases require operating-room certification or hospital privileges.<\/p>

    Similar to dermatologic surgery, there are subspecialties within the world of plastic surgery that entail prior training in the area of operation. For instance, oculoplastic surgeons, who specialize in procedures of the eye area, such as blepharoplasties<\/a> and injectable treatments<\/a>, first undergo ophthalmology training before pursuing oculoplastic surgery as a specialty. <\/p>

    Facial plastic surgeons, on the other hand, typically complete training in otolaryngology (also known as ENT—short for ears, nose and throat) before entering the plastic surgery realm. “You’re trained in both reconstructive and cosmetic facial procedures, from the top of the scalp to the collarbones,” says Dr. Anthony Bared<\/a>, a facial plastic surgeon in Miami who specializes in rhinoplasty and hair transplantation<\/a>. “It ranges from hair transplantation to neck lifts.<\/a>” <\/p>

    Plastic surgeons, meanwhile, have jurisdiction from head to toe, says Dr. Laurie Casas<\/a>, a plastic surgeon in Chicago. They dedicate six years to surgical training, with at least three specifically in plastic surgery. Most board-certified plastic surgeons undergo six years of plastic surgery training. And they can specialize beyond that for both face and body. Dr. Casas, for example, followed plastic surgery training with residencies in face, eyes and nose aesthetics; breast augmentation<\/a>; and microsurgery. <\/p>

    Plastic surgery is the only category with extensive training below the neck, which is why breast and body contouring<\/a> fall entirely under its purview. <\/p>