The third question to ask is: how many rhinoplasties does your surgeon perform each year? How many years have they been in practice? After 25 years, we perform at least 100 rhinoplasties annually, meaning I'm in the operating room every week performing rhinoplasty surgeries. Repetition is crucial for mastery, and I believe that my experience keeps improving with each surgery.
Online Patient Reviews
The fourth crucial aspect to consider before consulting with a surgeon is online patient reviews. What are other patients saying about your prospective surgeon? There are multiple online physician rating sites like Google, Yelp, Healthgrades, RateMDs.com, RealSelf.com, and Vitals.com. It's beneficial to explore all of these before scheduling a consultation because the experiences of others, along with before and after photos and practice dedication, are essential factors to consider.
Certification & Training
The fifth factor is the type of training your prospective surgeon has. I'm double board-certified in otolaryngology and facial plastic surgery. As an otolaryngologist and facial plastic surgeon, I believe this combination provides the best expertise in addressing both functional and cosmetic issues of the nose. We regularly handle deviated nasal septa, turbinate enlargement, and narrowing of internal and external nasal valves. It's important to choose a specialist who understands the nasal airway along with cosmetic concerns, as post-surgery, you'll want both a good-looking nose and the ability to breathe properly.
Consultations & Computer Imaging
Once you've found a few doctors meeting these criteria, I recommend scheduling several consultations (between one and three is reasonable). During these in-person consultations, observe whether the doctor examines and looks inside your nose. Some doctors overlook this crucial step, but the nose should be treated as both an aesthetic and functional entity.
Also, has your surgeon done computer imaging with you that you feel is adequate to meet your needs? And does your surgeon convey confidence in their ability to meet or exceed your expectations? These are vital questions to ask during your consultations.
Conclusion
In summary, these six points—before and after photos, practice dedication, surgical experience, patient reviews, training, and gut feeling—are crucial considerations when choosing a rhinoplasty specialist. Trust your instincts; if something feels off after meeting with a doctor, it may indicate they're not the right fit for you.
We're passionate about rhinoplasty surgery and would be delighted to help you determine if it's right for you. Please feel free to visit our website, ericmjoseph.com, where you can schedule a free digital consultation by uploading your photos along with a description of your concerns. I hope you found this information helpful on your journey, and thank you for watching.