Choosing a surgeon is one of the most important decisions you will make when considering facial plastic surgery. For facial plastic surgery, training focused on the face and neck is especially relevant. This blog discusses what board certification means, why the specialty represented by a surgeon’s board certification matters, and the benefits of choosing a surgeon with this distinction.
Table of Contents
- The Importance of Choosing the Right Surgeon
- What Does Board Certification Mean for a Facial Plastic Surgeon?
- Why Does the Type of Board Certification Matter?
- What Are the Benefits of Choosing a Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon?
- Meet Dr. Harrison Lee, Triple Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon in Beverly Hills and New York City
- Schedule Your Consultation in Beverly Hills or New York Today
The Importance of Choosing the Right Surgeon
If you are considering a facial cosmetic procedure like a facelift, brow lift, or blepharoplasty, you might be at the point in your search where you need to choose a surgeon. And you have likely discovered there are hundreds to choose from—just in your immediate area. It can be overwhelming, but choosing a qualified facial plastic surgeon is an important part of prioritizing safety and achieving your aesthetic goals.
Facial plastic surgery is like any professional service: You want to choose the best person for the job. While social media and cultural standards make it seem like it is no big deal, facial surgery is an impactful experience. It is an invasive procedure that has risks and complications, and the results can have a lasting impact on your appearance.
It is your face, your body, and your health that you are entrusting to a stranger. It is important to do your homework and choose the person most qualified for the job.
What Does Board Certification Mean for a Facial Plastic Surgeon?
While searching for a facial plastic surgeon, you have likely seen different credentials and certifications next to their names. Some indicate they are board certified, while others just include the surgeon’s name.
Board certification is a voluntary credential awarded by a specialty certifying board after a surgeon satisfies that board’s requirements. Depending on the specialty, these requirements may include an approved residency, professional experience, written and oral examinations, peer review, case documentation, and ongoing certification activities.
Why Does the Type of Board Certification Matter?
The term “board certified” is most meaningful when the certification relates directly to the procedure. Facial plastic surgery requires extensive knowledge of the skin, soft tissues, muscles, nerves, airway structures, facial bones, and jaw.
The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, for example, requires surgeons to complete an approved residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery or plastic surgery that includes training in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Candidates must also hold prior certification from an eligible primary specialty board, such as the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery or the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and meet additional requirements involving surgical experience, case review, examinations, licensure, and professional ethics.
Dr. Harrison Lee’s qualifying primary specialty certification is through the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He is also board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. This pathway reflects training and assessment specifically relevant to surgery of the face, head, and neck.
What Are the Benefits of Choosing a Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon?
Benefits of choosing a board-certified facial plastic surgeon include:
- Specialized training and assessment: Board certification helps patients identify the specialty in which a surgeon has completed formal training and met established certification requirements.
- Independent evaluation: Depending on the specialty board, certification may involve evaluation of education, residency training, examinations, surgical experience, case records, professional standing, and ethical conduct.
- Relevant certification: Patients can determine whether the surgeon’s certified specialties relate to the face, head, neck, jaw, or other areas being treated.
- Commitment to professional standards: Maintaining applicable board certification can demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the professional and educational standards established by the certifying organization.
In the end, board certification is just one factor to consider when choosing the right surgeon for you. A consultation gives you an opportunity to speak directly with a surgeon and determine whether you feel comfortable moving forward. Ask them about their experience, request to see before and after images, and discuss their recommendations for the procedure you are considering.
Choosing the right surgeon involves both objective qualifications and your personal comfort with the surgeon, but board certification and relevant expertise should be important factors to consider.
Meet Dr. Harrison Lee, Triple Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon in Beverly Hills and New York City
Harrison H. Lee, MD, DMD, FACS, is a triple board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon with offices in both Beverly Hills and New York City. His extensive education encompasses medicine, dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, otolaryngology, and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Dr. Lee holds certification from three specialty boards:
- American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
- American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Together, these complementary specialties reflect Dr. Lee’s extensive training in both the soft tissue and structural anatomy of the face and neck. His training in oral and maxillofacial surgery encompasses the facial skeleton and jaw; his otolaryngology training encompasses the head and neck; and his facial plastic and reconstructive surgery training focuses specifically on aesthetic and reconstructive procedures of the face. Dr. Lee uses this combination as an important part of his approach to facelifts, neck lifts, facial feminization surgery (FFS), jaw contouring, facial rejuvenation, and other facial procedures.
Board certification is not the only factor that patients should consider, and no credential can guarantee a particular outcome. However, Dr. Lee’s three specialty certifications, dual medical and dental degrees, facial plastic surgery fellowship, and extensive facial surgery experience provide patients with meaningful information about the focus of his training.
Schedule Your Consultation in Beverly Hills or New York Today
If you are ready to learn more about Dr. Lee or specific procedures, you can request a consultation by calling (310) 777-2627 for his Beverly Hills, CA, office and (212) 988-9769 for his New York, NY, office. You can also complete our online contact form.