How To Choose the Best Rhinoplasty Surgeon

If you’re considering a nose job, you’re not alone. Rhinoplasty is the most frequently performed plastic surgery procedure in the U.S., with more than 350,000 people choosing to have a nose job in 2020 alone. The procedure’s popularity stems from its dramatic results, helping those who are dissatisfied with their nose shape, size, or proportion to other features.

Although rhinoplasty is a common procedure, not every plastic surgeon who performs the surgery is an expert. A surgeon’s education, training, experience, and expertise greatly influence their patients’ results. Here are some things to consider when choosing a plastic surgeon for your rhinoplasty.

Is the Plastic Surgeon Board Certified?

Rhinoplasty is a highly complex plastic surgery procedure, so ensuring your surgeon has the proper educational background, training, and certification is vital. If you are unsure which board your surgeon should be certified through, remember that the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is the only cosmetic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (AMBS).

A board-certified plastic surgeon will have completed the following:

• At least 6 years of surgical training following medical school (3 of those years must be devoted to plastic surgery).
• Optional additional Fellowships training in sub-specialties.
• Passed oral and written exams.

Board-certified plastic surgeons are committed to continued medical education with a strong focus on patient safety. You should not have any doubts about your safety during a cosmetic procedure and will get that assurance from a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Does the Plastic Surgeon Have Experience With Your Particular Concern?

You may seek a rhinoplasty for various reasons, including a flat or crooked bridge, bulbous tip, asymmetry, or another concern. Your plastic surgeon should have extensive experience helping patients with similar issues. A good way to research a plastic surgeon’s experience is to review before and after photos, patient reviews, and patient satisfaction ratings.

An experienced plastic surgeon will be knowledgeable about advanced surgical techniques and well-prepared to anticipate and manage complications. You don’t want cookie-cutter results from your nose job, so you need a surgeon who understands your unique facial attributes and can give you safe and natural-looking results.

Will Your Plastic Surgeon Offer Customized Options?

Your aesthetic goals are unique to you, and your plastic surgeon should be able to offer a customized treatment plan to reach those goals. If you want to make subtle changes to your nose or have particular concerns, communicate those wishes to your surgeon.

Depending on what you hope to accomplish with a rhinoplasty, your plastic surgeon will recommend an open or closed rhinoplasty for the best results.

Does the Plastic Surgeon Perform Cosmetic Procedures at a Reputable Surgical Facility?

Check if your plastic surgeon performs the procedure at a hospital or surgical facility. If your rhinoplasty will occur in a surgical facility, make sure it’s an accredited facility that adheres to the highest standards for patient safety, equipment, medication, and more.

Other things to consider when researching the facility are the atmosphere, credentials of the support staff, and emergency plans for potential complications or unforeseen occurrences. Make sure your rhinoplasty is performed in a safe and comfortable environment for the best outcome from your surgery.

Do You Feel Comfortable Talking With Your Plastic Surgeon?

When researching plastic surgeons, you should meet face-to-face with a few different plastic surgeons before making your choice. These meetings will help you gauge the surgeon’s bedside manner, communication style, willingness to answer questions, and overall comfort level. Have a list of questions ready for the meeting, and pay attention to how your plastic surgeon provides information and if they respect your thoughts and opinions.

You can also observe interactions between the surgeon, the support staff, and other medical personnel to understand their communication style better. Remember, your plastic surgeon plays a crucial role in your aesthetic journey, so you want to ensure you are comfortable and have open communication with them.

Questions To Ask Your Plastic Surgeon

When getting to know your plastic surgeon, you will have many questions. Here are some questions that will help you understand your surgeon’s skills, experience, and personality.

• What is your typical rhinoplasty patient like?
• How many rhinoplasties do you perform in a month?
• What are your typical results like?
• How do you handle complications during the procedure?
• Have you had patients who were not happy with their results? What happens next?
• How would your past patients describe you?
• What is your preferred style of contact with your patients?

If you’re still considering whether now is the right time to pursue rhinoplasty, be sure to read our related blog post, 10 Things To Consider When Deciding If Plastic Surgery Is for You.

Doing ample research and getting face time with different plastic surgeons will help you pick the best fit. Our experienced plastic surgeons are happy to talk with you about your rhinoplasty options and their experience and patient results. To learn more about the results you can expect from our team, request a consultation or call us at (561) 880-8866 to schedule an appointment.