Rhinoplasty (Nose Reshaping) - How to Find & Choose a Surgeon

Rhinoplasty is performed on about 350,000 American noses annually, making it one of the most common cosmetic surgical procedures.

Why Should You Find a Qualified Plastic Surgeon?

Rhinoplasty can be difficult to perform, and about 1 in 10 patients return to have secondary rhinoplasty for further refinement and/or correction.

Therefore, you want to find a plastic surgeon with excellent medical training, considerable surgical skill and extensive plastic surgery experience. Also, the doctor should be board-certified. Learn how to choose a plastic surgeon who is trustworthy and has certain qualities from the Cleveland Clinic.

Why Should You Choose a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon?

It is recommended that you choose a board-certified surgeon because certification means that the doctor successfully completed an approved educational program and met board certification requirements, including an examination to determine his or her ability to provide quality medical care.

Get a good understanding about what it means to be a board-certified plastic surgeon from YourPlasticSurgeryGuide.com.

Are All Board Certification Levels the Same?

Surgeons with the most training include the plastic surgeons who are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Facial plastic surgeons can also be board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) and American Board of Otolaryngology (ABO). Learn what what it takes to get certified by AAFPRS, ABFPRS and ABO.

Unfortunately, board certification does not always guarantee a successful rhinoplasty outcome. The surgeon's skill depends on other factors that include training, frequency and complexity of surgeries, use of the latest technologies, and more.

What If Your Surgeon Is Not Certified by ABPS, ABFPRS or ABO?

In this case, your doctor still may be qualified to perform rhinoplasty. Get more information on what other board certifications entail and how they differ from the certification by ABPS, ABFPRS and ABO. Also, learn how to identify a facial plastic surgeon [pdf / 91KB].

Is Your Doctor a Member of a Plastic Surgery Association or Society?

Learn the difference between board certification and membership in a plastic surgery association or society.

Can You Verify Whether a Plastic Surgeon Is Board-Certified?

To verify board certification, use the American Board Specialties certification verification tool. You will need to register for the free service. (The Board does not require you to submit any additional information other than your first name and e-mail address. After registration, your password will be e-mailed to you for future use.)

What Are the Surgeon's Operating Facility Requirements?

The requirements for the facility where the surgery is to be performed must meet certain quality standards and be accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). Become acquainted with the standards and verify that an office or facility is accredited by the AAAASF by visiting their Surgery Facilities web page.

Plastic Surgeons For Other Procedures

Are you looking for a plastic surgeon for a different procedure? Check out other credible sites about abdominoplasty surgeons, breast surgeons, face lift surgeons, and liposuction surgeons.

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