Is It Unwise to Choose a Facial Plastic Surgeon with Only 3 Years Experience?

No, not at all. Just because you have been in practice 30 years does not make you a great surgeon. Many of the younger surgeons are very well trained and may have better skills then others. I would make sure that they have done many of the surgeries that you are seeking.

Hello! Thank you for your question.  Cost will vary among plastic surgeons as well as with geographic location and what procedures exactly they will be providing to you.  Certainly, researching a board certified plastic surgeon well-versed in the procedure(s) you desire is recommended - checking the American Board of Plastic Surgery is a great start. Consult with two or more surgeons who you are happy with their postoperative photographs and those who you, most importantly, feel comfortable and confident with. Use the opportunity to ask questions as well as visit with staff and investigate the accredited facilities they work out of.  I believe fellowship-training, beyond the core plastic surgery residency to be important, as that surgeon has gone above and beyond to seek additional training specific to that area of interest and chosen to gain additional expertise in that area.   Experience should not be measured solely by the age of the surgeon or how many years s/he has been in practice.  Checking the education and training is more valuable - a Board Certified MD plastic surgeon who was accepted to and completed an integrated plastic surgery residency, in today's day and age, are excellent choices. Those are the top students who have superior training at top institutes.  Plastic Surgery is NOT a fellowship...it is a residency. Those surgeons who have actually successfully completed additional fellowship training beyond the plastic surgery residency are also passionate about that area and will likely have the most recent, innovative, and up to date techniques. These are usually the younger surgeons, who are still readily willing and competent to continue to strive for the newest material and remain up to date on literature and conferences. You must decide for yourself who you are most comfortable with and confident with who will meet your goals and expectations. Cost may differ just on expertise and the aforementioned additional training ad what that additional expertise training has afforded to his/her patients.  Hope that this helps!  Best  wishes!

In this situation you have done a lot of the things patients should do that is check results, look at photographs and talk with the surgeon. Sometimes you can get an idea by how complex your nose is and what changes you want to make. If you are not seeking a drastically different nose or it appears relatively simple, then your nose would be considered less complicated even to a surgeon with less rhinoplasties under his belt. Also, I often tell my patients to have at least two or more consultations with me prior to doing a rhinoplasty to make sure that we are all on the same page as far at the approach, expectations and risks of the procedure. Good luck.