One of the most important aspects of cosmetic surgery is choosing the right surgeon. In California, and in particular Southern California there are hundreds of providers all seemingly offering the same service. The good news for the patient is that most surgeons performing face and neck lifts are well-trained and can achieve good results. Also, being located in a region that has many providers allows the patient to choose the surgeon that is the best fit instead of being the only surgeon in town.
Finding the best face lift surgeon requires a bit of research, but all the necessary information is only a few clicks away
IMPORTANT CRITERIA FOR SELECTING THE BEST FACE LIFT SURGEON
1. In my opinion the two medical boards that best regulate the credentials of their members are the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Your surgeon should be board certified/eligible by one of these boards. In addition, oculoplastic surgeons are qualified to perform eyelid and brow lifts.
2. Check the website of your state medical board to see if a surgeon has any actions / censures against them. Bad apples will typically have multiple complaints.
3. Your surgeon should be able to perform the facelift at a local hospital. Hospitals go through lengthy review processes before granting surgical privileges. If a provider is not credentialed to perform a requested procedure at any local hospitals, I would be suspicious. Even if the face lift is scheduled to be done in the office, every surgeon should be credentialed at a nearby hospital.
4. Read patient reviews about your surgeon. Try these websites first:
i. Realself.com
ii. Yelp.com
HOW TO FIND A FACELIFT SPECIALIST
Physicians from a number of different backgrounds believe themselves qualified to perform cosmetic surgery. Sometimes the physician will have no surgical training all but still market themselves as a competent cosmetic surgeon. This internal medicine physician is on trial for manslaughter after attempting an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) without adequate training, supervision or credentials.
Remember to look for a Facial Plastic Surgeon or a Plastic Surgeon. Facial Plastic Surgeons specialize in the cosmetic rejuvenation of the face and neck. Plastic Surgeons perform facial plastic procedures in addition to hand, microvascular, breast and body surgeries. Surgeons from both backgrounds are qualified to perform facelift procedures.
It is important to check credentials, check with the state medical board, and check patient reviews.
And finally, go with your intuition. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Be suspicious of a provider that offers the same procedure at half the cost of everyone else in town. Make sure that your surgeon is a person that you can trust and someone who will be with you through the end.
Have more questions about facelift surgery, neck lifts, mini facelifts or how to refresh your appearance? Please visit our informational page here. Don’t forget to view Dr. Kolstad’s gallery of Before & After images.
If you would like to know more about facelift surgery simply schedule a consult with Dr. Kolstad at his facial plastic surgery office in La Jolla. Give us a call at 858.859.2563 to schedule your appointment today. We are conveniently located in in La Jolla between I5 and I 805. We serve men and women in La Jolla, Del Mar, San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Solano Beach, Encinitas and Southern California.
