Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

The patient care goal of the Division of Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery is to make the entire surgical experience both pleasant and convenient for all patients. Whether the surgery is part of a necessary procedure or an enhancement of a facial feature, our physicians are dedicated to achieving a natural appearance, improving facial features and minimizing facial abnormality.

In addition to quality patient care, the division continues its tradition of teaching excellence with facial plastics grand rounds and facial plastics teaching conferences. Complementing the division's faculty, grand rounds discussants include guest speakers from the related fields of dermatology, oculoplastic surgery, plastic surgery, and maxillofacial surgery.

Selecting the right surgeon
No single factor can be used to select a qualified and competent surgeon. Board certification does not guarantee experience, skill, or good medical judgment. However, a board certified surgeon is a good place to start. Another important consideration is surgical experience. In many cases, plastic surgeons may specialize in surgery of the breast, hand, or abdomen with very little emphasis on the face. In contrast, surgeons who restrict their practice to facial surgery are often far more accomplished in the specialized techniques relating to the face. It is recommended that patients investigate their choices carefully and select a surgeon that satisfies their requirements.

In order to assess a patients suitability for facial plastic surgery, it is necessary to schedule a consultation visit with the doctor. During the consultation, cosmetic goals and surgical expectations will be reviewed and as well as a careful examination of the patient. Based upon the findings at consultation, the physician will discuss the realistic likelihood of achieving cosmetic goals with facial plastic surgery. This should not be construed as a guarantee of outcome, but rather a good faith medical opinion, which may vary according to surgeon skill, patient cooperation, and wound healing capacity. It is extremely important that the patient and the surgeon share similar and realistic expectations for surgical improvement prior to surgical intervention.