Search for facial rejuvenation online and you’ll see “facial plastic surgeon,” “cosmetic surgeon,” “aesthetic surgeon,” “oculoplastic surgeon,” and more. It’s confusing. Here’s a clear look at who performs facial plastic surgery and how to make an informed choice.
What Is Facial Plastic Surgery?
Facial plastic surgery covers procedures that enhance or restore facial features — rhinoplasty, facelifts, eyelid surgery, and non-surgical treatments like Botox and fillers — as well as reconstructive work after cancer or trauma. Put simply, facial plastic surgery is plastic surgery on the face, and the goal is always natural-looking results that harmonize with the whole face.
Who Is a “Facial Plastic Surgeon”?
The public often pictures a surgeon who only operates on the face, usually for cosmetic reasons. Among surgeons, the term commonly refers to an otolaryngologist (ENT) who completed an additional fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. That’s appropriate — ENTs have broad head-and-neck training, often exceeding a plastic surgeon’s for intranasal, intraoral, and inner-ear work.
Training: a residency in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, then a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.
What About Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons?
A board-certified plastic surgeon is trained across the entire body — from breast and body contouring to facelift, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, and facial reconstruction. Training is either a general surgery (or ENT/orthopedics) residency followed by a plastic surgery fellowship, or an integrated 6-year plastic surgery residency straight from medical school. That breadth gives a holistic understanding of anatomy and aesthetics.
As a board-certified plastic surgeon, I’m very comfortable with facial plastic surgery — drawing on extensive reconstructive experience (skin cancer and trauma) and a practice focused on facial procedures under local anesthesia: deep plane facelifts, brow lifts, neck lifts, and eyelid lifts, routinely, in our Austin office. That’s not for lack of hospital privileges — I hold several — but because facial procedures under local anesthesia carry minimal risk and produce remarkably less swelling than under general anesthesia.
A Note on Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is also performed by oculoplastic surgeons — ophthalmologists with additional training in aesthetic and functional eyelid surgery — as well as by plastic surgeons.
How to Choose
- Right procedures: does the surgeon have the training and volume to reproducibly achieve your goal?
- Experience and track record: review before-and-after photos and read reviews — the personal ones reveal a surgeon’s style and demeanor.
- Relevant board certification: double- or triple-boarded sounds impressive, but what matters is certification by the board relevant to your procedure. For a plastic surgery procedure, look for certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (or, for a facial-only ENT, the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery).
The Bottom Line
Several types of qualified surgeons perform facial plastic surgery. Understanding the differences — and matching relevant board certification to your specific procedure — lets you choose with confidence. Schedule a consultation to discuss your goals.