Board-certified facial plastic surgeon Scottsdale

When you’re considering having plastic surgery, one of the first things you think about is how to choose a surgeon. You have probably read the advice to choose a surgeon who is “board-certified.” This is usually the first thing on any list of what you should consider. Have you ever wondered what that really means, and why it matters? What special education and training does it take to become a board-certified facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Henderson?

Board certification requirements

Dr. Henderson is actually certified by two separate boards: the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS), and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS).

In order to be certified by the ABOHNS, a surgeon must first graduate from medical school. Next, they complete a post-graduate training program called a residency, which takes several years. Certification in either otolaryngology -head and neck surgery or general surgery allows the surgeon to be eligible to enter an additional one year fellowship program to gain expertise in facial plastic surgery to be eligible for certification by the ABFPRS. She took this extra step in order to gain the specialized skills needed to become an excellent facial plastic surgeon.

In addition to completing the training programs, the surgeon must pass rigorous two day long written and oral examination, covering all aspects of facial plastic surgery. He or she must also submit for peer review two years’ worth of patient records, which include at least 100 cases of facial plastic surgery. A group of experienced facial plastic surgeons evaluates the techniques and outcomes achieved, and must affirm that the surgeon who is applying has demonstrated the skills required to achieve excellence in facial plastic surgery for their patients. At this point, the surgeon becomes eligible to join the board, and to legitimately claim to be “board-certified.”

That doesn’t mean he or she is done forever; surgeons must periodically take a recertification exam in order to remain board-certified. This ensures that the surgeon stays up-to-date on advancements in the field.

Why does board certification matter?

As a patient, the process of choosing a facial plastic surgeon is a little bit more complicated than for other types of surgery. For example, if you needed heart surgery, you would be referred to a surgeon by your emergency room doctor or your primary doctor. You could rely on your doctor’s assessment of that surgeon to know that he or she is competent to perform the procedure well. Additionally, because your insurance would likely pay for the procedure, you could rely on the insurance company’s vetting of that surgeon. Insurance companies generally require that a surgeon in their network be board-certified in the type of surgery they perform. Because of these resources, you could feel confident that you’re in the hands of someone who knows what they’re doing.

With plastic surgery, you generally don’t have a referral, and insurance companies are generally not involved. As a result, you can’t rely on those usual methods to know that you’re choosing a good surgeon. Reviews can be helpful, but they come from the public and not from other professionals, and of course any review system is imperfect. Choosing a surgeon who’s board-certified means that other professionals in the field have reviewed that surgeon’s training and work, and have certified that he or she is highly competent to perform facial plastic surgery. This gives you peace of mind, and helps to ensure that you’ll have the best possible outcome.

Unfortunately, there is no law against advertising oneself as a “plastic surgeon” without board certification. It’s left up to patients to check for themselves.

Board-certified facial plastic surgeon Scottsdale

Dr. Henderson is certified by two separate boards of surgery, in facial plastic surgery and in head and neck surgery. By focusing her practice on facial plastic surgery procedures, she maintains her skills in these procedures and helps to ensure that she gets the very best possible results for her patients.

If you’re looking for a specialist facial plastic surgeon in the Scottsdale area, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Henderson. With her years of training and experience, and her double board certification, you’ll know that you’re in excellent hands.