How many facelifts should a skilled facial plastic surgeon do in a year?

Hello, 
Thank you for the excellent question. It is difficult and often fruitless to say how many facelifts a plastic surgeon should do in a year to be considered "good" or "experienced."  I believe that one should rather focus on the results of the facelifts that the surgeon has performed. For example, a board certified facial plastic surgeon who has been doing facelifts for 10 years with amazing results will still be preferable to a plastic surgeon who has 20 years’ experience in performing facelifts but leaves most patients unsatisfied and with their goals unfulfilled. In searching for a board certified facial plastic surgeon to conduct your facelift, I believe there are two considerations you should put above the rest. The first one is their certifications. It is crucial that you choose a facial plastic surgeon that is certified by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as this will guarantee that he or she is held to a very high standard of quality of safety. The other factors you should weigh when researching potential board certified facial plastic surgeons is what past patients look like and have to say about the surgeon. Can you see before and after photos of real patients that reflect what you want your surgery results to look like? Did the surgeon offer good quality care both before and after the surgery? I hope you find this helpful in your search for a good board certified facial plastic surgeon and good luck!
- Jacqueline T. Cheng, MD

Thank you for your question. There is no exact number of procedures that I can give you to determine if your surgeon is qualified to perform the procedure or not. I know of a few doctors that perform many procedures that are not even plastic surgeons so there is no magic number to finding a great surgeon. I would say first you should seek out a plastic surgeon who is Board Certified and a member of ASAPS. Being a member of ASAPS means your surgeon concentrates on aesthetics and is held to high ethical standards. I would say your surgeon should be in practice for at least 10 years to be "experienced". As for face lifts, I would say at a minimum he/she should perform 2-4/ month for at least the last 3-5 years and be increasing that number. I would find someone who concentrates on facial rejuvenation which means 50% or more of the practice is face lift procedures. A surgeon who "specializes" in facial rejuvenation will probably perform 1-2 face lifts PER WEEK. Do your homework and look at their before and after photos. Best of luck.

Thank you for your question.  Although there is no defined number of facelifts a plastic surgeon should perform per year, it is important to seek out a board certified plastic surgeon with an aesthetic surgery practice.  The reputation of the surgeon, before and after pictures, as well as the surgeon's communication style all are important when selecting a plastic surgeon to perform your surgery. Most of my patients want results that are beautiful and natural, not too tight or severe looking.  It is very important to be able to discuss your own desires openly with your plastic surgeon so that your expectations are realistic and something that your plastic surgeon can achieve for you. Best of luck to you.