Don't trust face lifts to part-timers

As plastic surgery has grown in popularity, doctors in other specialties, such as dermatology and ophthalmology, have begun to do face lifts and other operations. You trust this doctor to handle your skin issues or eye condition, but should you also trust him or her to handle your plastic surgery?

Both dermatologists and ophthalmologists have to graduate from an accredited institution, complete at least a three-year residency in their specialty area, and pass a licensing exam. These are impressive requirements to be sure, but neither one has any surgical standards beyond their residency rotation to meet during their medical degree certification. However, many dermatologists and ophthalmologists have established very successful plastic surgery practices. Many ophthalmologists have become noted surgeons on the eyelids and other areas around the eyes due to their extensive study of that area of the body.

If considering plastic surgery with any doctor not a full-time plastic surgeon, make sure to check his or her experience. How many procedures has the doctor done? What training has he had? How much training has the doctor had since her residency? Find out where and when his or her surgical training was done – and verify that information.

Ask if the doctor has hospital privileges to perform the surgery being proposed. If he or she does, get the hospital's name and verify that. A quick Internet search can oftentimes provide that verification. If a doctor does not have hospital privileges for a facial procedure, it may be time to walk away and consider a full-time plastic surgeon for the job. Also check if the facility is accredited for surgical procedures.

Also have the doctor tell you how many procedures identical to yours that he has done and get references or testimonials for people having that procedure done under the guidance of the physician. Check if he or she is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. The board, which has been in existence since 1937, has the most stringent requirements – five years of surgical training – for certification. That certification guarantees extensive experience in plastic surgery.

Some dermatologists are certified by the American Society of Dermatological Surgery, showing they have had extensive training. Others have had specialized training after their residency. Do not simply trust that the doctor has plenty of training otherwise he wouldn't be proposing the surgical procedure.

Know that some doctors in other specialties have done little more than take a weekend course on face lifts or another plastic surgery procedure. That training may be enough to master certain basic plastic surgery procedures, like collagen injections, but not for major surgery. Make sure your have gotten substantiated proof of your doctor's qualifications before agreeing to have him or her perform your plastic surgery. Don't be embarrassed to simply tell the part-time plastic surgeon that you want to get a second opinion if you are not comfortable with his or her qualifications. You are trusting the doctor doing this procedure with your entire facial appearance. Hurting someone's feelings does not play into the equation.