Can one plastic surgeon do face and body well?

Dear Susantomfoolery, thank you for your question!

It is indeed possible to find a plastic surgeon skilled in both facial and body procedures. Many board-certified plastic surgeons are trained in a range of procedures, from facelifts to body contouring (such as tummy tucks, arm lifts, and thigh lifts). However, some surgeons choose to specialize in either face or body to refine their expertise further in that area. If you prefer one surgeon for all your procedures, look for a board-certified plastic surgeon with a broad, successful portfolio in both facial and body work. During your consultation, discuss their experience, ask to see before-and-after photos of similar procedures, and make sure they’re comfortable performing the specific combination you want. A skilled surgeon with a comprehensive approach can help you achieve natural, balanced results across different areas.

Hello and thank you for your question. In short- every surgeon's practice is different. These days, due to how saturated most cities are with plastic surgeons and the resulting competition, many surgeons have been forced to super-specialize in just a particular area of the body or small handful of procedures to make a name for themselves. Of course, everything comes down to their training and comfort level with a particular procedure or set of procedures. Often surgeons will focus on just face procedures or just body procedures, so it is reasonable to assume that the same surgeon can perform your tummy tuck and arm lift and thigh lift.
As a patient, it is important to invest your time and do your research in advance to determine what is going to be best for you in your specific case and your area. Make sure you find a surgeon or surgeons that you can trust, and try to see as many before and after pictures as possible to give you an idea of what to expect from their surgeries.
Personally, I am comfortable with and do a fantastic job at both facial procedures and body contouring procedures, and I have had significant training and experience in all aesthetic surgery procedures. I just enjoy facial procedures more, so I highlight this more in my practice. I am sure there are many other amazing plastic surgeons out there with a story similar to mine.
I recommend for you to come see me or another plastic surgeon or surgeons for a formal consultation to thoroughly discuss your surgical goals, undergo a formal examination, evaluate all your options, and decide on the best procedures and the best surgeon(s) for your specific case. Do not be afraid to get second, third, or even fourth opinions! It is your face and body, you need to ultimately feel comfortable, heard, and trust your surgeon(s). I hope this helps!
Best wishes,
Dr. Donald Groves
Plastic Surgeon

Of course a Plastic Surgeon who does both face and body can be good at both. Some of us are trained as General Plastic Surgeons and some as Facial Plastic Surgeons. But frequently, Surgeons gravitate toward what they like and are best at. I would advise that you see a Surgeon who does 80-100 facelifts a year or more. More importantly, make sure that you like the individual Surgeon's work (at least 20 examples), ask to see patients in different decades that the Surgeon has operated on, make sure that you like his/her demeanor, the way the staff treat you, and ask to speak to former patients.

There are plastic surgeons who can perform multiple facial and body procedure with above average results. You will have to look carefully to find such a surgeon. However, it is also quite acceptable to do these procedure with different surgeons, depending how you feel about particular surgeon(s). And, of course, some of these procedures can be combined and done in the same setting. Good luck.

Many surgeons are facile and quite skilled in many different types of surgery. Contrary to the beliefs of many (and marketing of some surgeons!), a single surgeon can do both face and body. Ask to see before and after photos of their work to get the best sense of their abilities and interests. I regularly do surgery of the face, breast, and body. I am aware of my strengths and of my limitations and if I do not feel I would be able to give the best result possible I would refer my patient to someone who could.