Rhinoplasty - Selecting the Right Surgeon

One of the most important steps in assuring a satisfactory rhinoplasty outcome is selecting the right surgeon. Since rhinoplasty ranks among the most challenging of all cosmetic procedures, at a bare minimum you should find a surgeon with genuine rhinoplasty expertise, considerable rhinoplasty experience, and a resume of consistently favorable results. A good surgeon will also be an effective communicator, a patient listener, and a compassionate caregiver. Although there are many surgeons who meet these criteria, there are many more that fall short, so careful and conscientious research is mandatory. And because rhinoplasty is an elective, non-emergent procedure, there is no excuse for failing to investigate the qualifications and credentials of your care provider - failing to do so means gambling with your face.

While the quality of your rhinoplasty outcome depends in large measure upon the quality of your rhinoplasty surgeon, finding a surgeon skilled in cosmetic nasal surgery is sometimes difficult. Unfortunately, there is no single reliable method for finding the right surgeon. Moreover, information sources may be inaccurate, contradictory, or difficult to access. Consequently, information is best gathered from all available sources and then carefully evaluated and cross-referenced to derive the best possible assessment. The process can be time-consuming and challenging, but for most individuals, a satisfactory choice eventually becomes clear.

Although the choice of surgeon is critically important, no surgeon can guarantee a perfect outcome. To the contrary, because nasal surgery is performed on swollen and distorted tissues that can change shape without warning, slight cosmetic imperfections are inevitable in virtually any nose, regardless of who performs the surgery. Even a well-meaning and highly talented surgeon cannot foresee or prevent every conceivable problem, so realistic expectations are essential. However, the time spent finding an established rhinoplasty specialist with a track record of happy patients is well worth the effort. Finding the right surgeon can make the difference between a dramatic cosmetic enhancement, and a scarred, unattractive nose.

Specialty Niche

In general, surgeons who specialize in a particular surgical niche tend to have greater interest and skill in that subspecialty. Typically, this translates into better and more consistent surgical outcomes, whether it is vascular tumors of the brain, total hip replacements, or cosmetic nasal surgery. Although finding a surgeon board certified in plastic surgery or facial plastic surgery is a good start, it by no means assures a satisfactory rhinoplasty will ensue. There are several different paths that can lead to credentialing in rhinoplasty surgery, including plastic surgery, otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat surgery), facial plastic surgery, and oral surgery. Each has advantages and disadvantages and no educational pathway has an exclusive lock on quality outcomes. Leaders in rhinoplasty have emerged from each of these educational pathways and in virtually every instance, their practices have been focused largely on nasal surgery.

Dr. Brent Kennedy MD, DDS is Board Certified by both the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He is also a full fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

Dr. Kennedy offers a fellowship program at the Institute of Facial and Cosmetic Surgery in cosmetic and aesthetic maxillofacial surgery. Doctors from around the nation seeking to continue their education in this discipline converge upon Salt Lake City, Utah, to take advantage of the Institute's valuable educational opportunities.

In addition to the instruction that Dr. Kennedy provides at the Institute, he is also a well-respected clinical associate professor at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School in the Division of Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Brent Kennedy has also lectured extensively both nationally and internationally on cosmetic facial surgery and facial plastic surgery and is renowned for pioneering advances in the field of aesthetic maxillofacial surgery.

• Dr. Kennedy's surgical techniques have been published widely in several medical journals and textbooks. He is currently working on several other chapters for medical texts. Listed below is a partial list of Dr. Kennedy's various chapters, topics and published articles:
  Chapters and Topics
  • Rhinoplasty Technique
  • Systematic Aesthetic Evaluation of Eyes and Periorbital Area for Cosmetic Surgery
  • Primary Blepharoplasty of Upper and Lower Eyelids
  • Aesthetic Primary Rhinoplasty
  • Suction Assisted Lipectomy in the Youthful Neck
  • Adjunctive Procedures in Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Facial Aesthetic Surgery -- Indications and Techniques for Rhinoplasty
  • Rhinoplasty

Dr. Kennedy is offering a $400.00 savings on Rhinoplasty surgery thru April 2013.