Before you decide to entrust your nose and face to a plastic surgeon for revision rhinoplasty, you must do some thorough research. You need to verify certain basic qualifications for a given plastic surgeon, then evaluate prior results, reputation and communication style.
You’ll make your final decision after a thorough consultation to discuss your specific rhinoplasty needs and goals. Before you take the time to meet with a rhinoplasty surgeon, however, make sure you learn about their background and credentials. Then, take the time to verify these details.
Finding an Elite Rhinoplasty Surgeon in the Westchester, NY, Area
Only rhinoplasty surgeons who are at the top of the profession should be considered to perform your surgery. You should not choose your surgeon based solely upon a consult, even if it goes well — nor should you decide solely based on credentials before having a rhinoplasty consultation in person.
A surgeon who looks good on paper, or has a great CV, resume or bio online, may turn out not to be the one for you, once you meet. Conversely, it may seem like a shortcut to go straight to the consultation without first researching the facts, experience and background of your NJ rhinoplasty surgeon.
This can be a mistake as well, because even if the surgeon is a great communicator and sounds knowledgeable, you must ensure that he or she has the experience and training to back up their presentation.
Surgeons are confident people, so your plastic surgeon may tell you that he or she is an expert and probably believes that wholeheartedly. You may find out, however, when checking the details, that they only have a year or two of experience.
With that amount of experience, the plastic surgeon may produce some good results in rhinoplasty, but they are unlikely to have wide enough experience to produce consistently good results for most patients.
First Things First: Surgical Qualifications and Background
Start with your surgeon’s bio or CV on their website. This should tell you about their education, residency, additional fellowships and years of experience. A well-known medical school and residency hospital in the US is ideal.
Verify state licensure to practice medicine. Your chosen surgeon must be currently licensed in the state of NJ (or NY if your surgeon is located in Westchester).
Check for Board Certification as a Plastic Surgeon. Certification should be from the American Board of Plastic Surgery specifically. This ensures that an in-depth, lengthy education and training has prepared your surgeon to perform rhinoplasty. There are other sound-alike boards that have sprung up, which only require a physician (dermatologist, oral surgeon, gynecologist, etc.) to attend a short course in cosmetic surgery. Since rhinoplasty is one of the most complex plastic surgery procedures, a thorough medical, surgical education and the right board certification is required.
Focus on rhinoplasty. Avoid the Jack-of-all-trades plastic surgeon for rhinoplasty. Instead, choose a surgeon who is devoted to the rhinoplasty procedure and spends the majority of his or her time focused on nose jobs. This indicates a keen level of interest and enthusiasm, which is a great bonus, showing that the surgeon is very comfortable with nose reshaping surgery. This focused practice also tells you that the surgeon’s years of experience are even more valuable for the rhinoplasty patient. (Studies have shown that the more experienced the rhinoplasty specialist, the better his or her track record for successful nose surgeries. This helps ensure that you will never need to seek a revision or corrective rhinoplasty. The surgeon who focuses on rhinoplasty, almost exclusively, typically has a track record of doing the procedure right the first time.) You can ask your surgeon about their focus, or learn it from their website.
Thought leadership. Choose a surgeon who has a leadership position in a local hospital or medical association. This is the sign of an innovator and someone who is up to date with current procedures and techniques in rhinoplasty.
Reputation. Recommendations from friends or family are valuable if they are rhinoplasty recommendations. A breast implant patient recommendation of a plastic surgeon doesn’t tell you about his or her ability to perform a superior rhinoplasty. Top Westchester, NY, rhinoplasty surgeons, (as well as NJ rhinoplasty experts) are generally well known in the regional medical community. You can ask a trusted family doctor or your dermatologist, for example, to recommend a talented surgeon for rhinoplasty.
You may need to contact/visit your surgeon’s office to get the following information:
Portfolio. Look at your surgeon’s work, if photos are posted online. You will be able to see more photos when you go for your consultation, too. See if you like the results you see. Do they all look similar? Or does each nose seem to suit the individual in the “after” photo? That’s what you want.
Surgical privileges. Even though your nasal surgery will not likely take place in the hospital, make sure your plastic surgeon is affiliated with a nearby, well-known hospital or university medical center. A surgeon must have an excellent safety record in order to maintain privileges, so you’ll have even more assurance of quality care from your surgeon.
Make sure the surgical facility is accredited. You can ask your NJ area rhinoplasty surgeon about this if it is not noted on the website. Then get the name of the accrediting body and look them up online. Accreditation is typically renewed with a yearly inspection and tells you that the safety record of the facility is up to par. Vanguard Surgery Center, which is adjacent to our offices in Bergen County, NJ, is fully accredited.
Know your anesthesiologist. Ask your plastic surgeon about the anesthesiologist’s qualifications. This should be an MD who is board certified. Top Westchester, NY, rhinoplasty surgeons should work with a top crew of colleagues, but it’s best to check.
Take a list of your additional questions. That way, you won’t forget to ask something crucial.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Rhinoplasty Consultation
When you find a surgeon who has all of the above qualifications, it’s time to make an appointment to discuss your rhinoplasty goals and options. You can typically find out the following details only at your surgical consultation.
At your rhinoplasty consultation, your surgeon should conduct an examination of your nose and ask about your medical history. The rhinoplasty specialist should ask you about your goals for your nose job. Tell the surgeon how you would like your nose to appear after surgery and talk about any breathing problems you may have.
If you have a good idea of your rhinoplasty goal, describe it to your surgeon in a number of ways. You can show photos of people who have a nose that you find attractive and/or describe in words what details you would like to change. Whether you want to change the tip, the bridge, remove a bump, make the nose smaller or larger, let your surgeon know.
If you’re not sure what bothers you about your nose, your Westchester, NY, or Bergen County, NJ, a surgeon can provide a perspective on what can be achieved through rhinoplasty. Your surgeon should suggest changes that result in a natural looking nose that enhances your other facial features.
Together, you and your plastic surgeon should agree upon a result that fits your goals and is realistic. Then the rhinoplasty surgeon should discuss the surgical strategy to achieve the goal. By the time you leave the office, you should have a clear idea of what to expect as your rhinoplasty outcome.
Deciding if a Rhinoplasty Surgeon is Right for You
In order to decide if the Westchester area plastic surgeon is right for you, think about your meeting. Did the surgeon ask questions about your goals and history? Did he or she answer your questions clearly?
Did your surgeon explain the risks of rhinoplasty surgery? Does the surgical plan make sense to you? Are you confident in the surgeon’s ability and comfortable with the surgeon performing your rhinoplasty?
If you’re not certain that you want to go forward, take the time to think about it. You can also consult another expert rhinoplasty surgeon to get a different perspective.
Schedule a Rhinoplasty Consultation Near Westchester
When you’re ready to learn more about your rhinoplasty options, contact Cohen/Winters Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery in Bergen County, NJ. Our practice is focused on providing personalized care built around your needs. We’re convenient to the Westchester NY area, so contact us today.
