Los Angeles Rhinoplasty in Beverly Hills - Revision Rhinoplasty

Board Certification

	In Canada, surgeons are certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.   Once certified by this organization, the surgeon is considered a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.   Canadian surgical centers are accredited by the Canadian Association of Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities.

If you've done your research, you've probably heard that it's important to select a "board-certified" facial plastic surgeon. But what does it mean to be board-certified, and why is it important? Board certification means that a facial plastic surgeon has completed an accredited residency program of at least five years and has passed written and oral exams given by either the American Board of Otolaryngology (head and neck surgery) or the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Once a doctor is certified by the board, he or she is called a diplomate. A physician whose certification is pending is called a candidate. You can verify board certification in otolaryngology or plastic surgery on the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) website (www.abms.org).

A physician isn't required to be board-certified to practice cosmetic surgery. In fact, board certification is a completely voluntary process. However, for your safety and peace of mind, you should choose only a cosmetic surgeon who is board-certified in otolaryngology or plastic surgery. Board certification provides the assurance that your surgeon is adequately trained. Some facial plastic surgeons are required to renew their certification every ten years. Be sure your surgeon's certification is up to date.

In addition to board certification, a surgeon can seek additional certification in facial plastic surgery. The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) offers certification to surgeons who are already board-certified. To qualify for certification from the ABFPRS, a surgeon must complete a two-day compre-hensive exam, must have been in practice for at least two years, must have completed at least 100 facial plastic surgeries, and must subscribe to a code of ethics. Choosing a surgeon who is certified by the ABFPRS offers you additional assurance that your surgeon is an experienced facial plastic surgeon. You can verify an American or a Canadian surgeon's certification by the ABFPRS at the organization's website.

A facial plastic surgeon may also be a fellow of the AAFPRS. To qualify as a fellow, a physician must already be board- certified in a specialty applicable to the head, neck and face area. In addition, the physician must have three full years in practice in plastic and reconstructive surgery of the face, head, and neck.

Surgical Experience

In addition to seeking out only board-certified facial plastic surgeons, it's imperative to select one who has ample experience performing nose surgery. But how much experience is enough? Many sources encourage you to ask your surgeon how many rhinoplasty procedures he or she performs on a yearly basis. But as a patient, how do you know the right answer? Should a surgeon be performing five rhinoplasties a year or twenty-five? Unfortunately, there's no definitive answer. However, as a general rule, you should consider only surgeons who are performing rhinoplasty on a regular basis, at least a few times a month.

The Surgical Center

When you're considering cosmetic surgery, also check out the surgical center where your procedure will be performed. Rhinoplasty can be performed in a number of settings, including outpatient surgery facilities, office-based surgical suites, and hospitals. In most cases, rhinoplasty is performed in an office-based surgical suite or an outpatient surgery
facility. No matter which setting a surgeon uses, it's important to make sure the facility is licensed and accredited, which means that it meets nationally recognized standards for safety and quality.

Depending on the state in which the surgery center is located, accreditation may be offered by a number of organizations, including Medicare, the American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. (For more information on these organizations, see the Resources section.) To become accredited, a facility must meet rigorous standards for surgeon credentials, equipment, personnel, and safety in the operating room. Because of these high standards, accredited surgical facilities have an excellent safety record.

Depending on the state, accreditation may be mandatory or voluntary. To ensure your safety, it's in your best interest to have your procedure performed in an accredited facility.

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