Want to know how to find a facial plastic surgeon online? After more than a year of working from home, millions have grown tired of looking old and tired on Zoom. Webcams are notorious for magnifying any flaw you have. As companies continue to hold Zoom meetings, interest in facial plastic surgery procedures like facelift, neck lift, and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and minimally invasive procedures like Botox and fillers is up dramatically around the world. The Washington Post reported:
Call it a Zoom boom. Or an opportune moment. Plastic surgeons across the globe are anecdotally reporting an unprecedented number of requests for procedures.
Our lives are so busy now that many want to learn about their options and even locate the best facial plastic surgeon for their needs online. If you’re one of them, here are some suggestions that can help.
Editor’s Note: Dr. Brian Machida is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon with an unusually high level of experience. He taught facial plastic surgery for years at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine. He has performed thousands of facial plastic surgery procedures with high levels of patient satisfaction.
Search for the kind of surgeon you need
If you want a tummy tuck, mommy makeover or butt lift, there are excellent plastic surgeons who can do it. Don’t call a facial plastic surgeon like me. But if you have jowls, bags under your eyes or a turkey neck and want to look better on Zoom, you’ll want to find an experienced facial plastic surgeon. Although a few plastic surgeons specialize in the face and neck, most work on the entire body. As a result, many only perform a few facelift, neck lift or blepharoplasty procedures every year.
Facial plastic surgeons, in contrast, focus on rejuvenating the face and neck. We’re experts in facelift, neck lift and blepharoplasty procedures.
So, when searching on Google, it’s wise to start by looking for surgeons that specialize in the kinds of procedures you need. If you have an issue below the neck you’d like to address, you’d do well to look for a plastic surgeon. If the procedure you need is from the neck up, a facial plastic surgeon or a plastic surgeon who specializes in the face and neck is a better choice. Ophthalmologists may perform blepharoplasty surgery to rejuvenate eyelids. But they’re often not trained in other face and neck procedures. Facial plastic surgeons can usually do them all.
Find a facial plastic surgeon online by checking credentials and experience
Credentials are important in finding the right surgeon. Specialties and training really matter. Unfortunately, after just completing a weekend seminar, any licensed physician can call him or herself a “cosmetic surgeon.” You want someone with extensive training in facial plastic surgery procedures. Surgeons who are board certified have that. Look for certification from boards like:
- American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- American Board of Plastic Surgery
You also need someone who has a significant amount of experience in performing facelifts, neck lifts and blepharoplasty procedures. That can be just as important as board certification. Don’t be quick to choose a surgeon who recently completed their surgical residency. Most of the work they’ve done is reconstructive (repairing injuries) rather than the cosmetic procedures you need.
Throughout the U.S. there are over 100 of my colleagues who worked with me at a very large national facial plastic surgery practice. Others took care of running our offices. All we did was see patients and perform procedures. We did a lot, and you know what they say practice makes! Many of us performed more facelifts in a year than most plastic surgeons do in their entire careers. Because of that unique situation, I’ve performed 6,000 face and neck lifts and 2,500 blepharoplasties.
One Medical Director I knew at that large practice has performed over 6,000 facelifts. He had an outstanding level of skill. He was so busy doing facelifts and training surgeons that he had never taken the time to sit for his board exams. But he was an exception. Most highly skilled facial plastic surgeons are board certified.
Find a facial plastic surgeon online by looking at reviews
Reviews can be invaluable tools in helping you find a facial plastic surgeon online. Take note of how many stars the surgeon has. Then take time to read the reviews. You can get a sense of whether good reviews are from truly satisfied patients. And you can discern whether bad reviews indicate a considerable number of unhappy patients – or just a few disgruntled individuals who want to make a good surgeon look bad.
It’s important to note that while happy patients rarely take the time to post reviews, unhappy ones often do. This can present a distorted view, making it look like a higher percentage of patients are dissatisfied than is actually the case. Shawn Achor, who taught a Positive Psychology course at Harvard and on PBS, pointed out that people who are inclined to look for mistakes often find them everywhere. Thus, unhappy patients will criticize everything, including the staff’s attitude and customer service at the practice, whether or not these were actually deficient.
Clearly, bad reviews don’t necessarily accurately represent the experience you would have at that facial plastic surgeon’s office. And, if a surgeon’s reviews reflect a high degree of patient satisfaction, that really says something.
There are several factors that determine how good plastic surgery results will be. The surgeon’s skill is one. Another is the patient’s individual anatomy. A third is how well and how quickly the patient heals and recovers. Healing and recovery take time and that all depends on your body, not the doctor. A fourth is patient expectations. When results are not everything the patient wanted, one or more of these factors may be to blame. The patient may not have healed well, or as quickly as expected. They may have hoped for unrealistic results. Thus, bad reviews may indicate a poor surgeon – or that one or more other factors is in play.
Look carefully at Before and After photos
It’s important to look at Before and After photos. Some surgeons provide truly impressive pictures. But how are their results in performing the procedures you need? Also, look at the amount of improvement in the specific area of concern, like jowls, neck, lower face, and eyelids. Patients who were not exceptionally attractive when they were young are rarely made great-looking by surgery. Look at each patient’s appearance before and after the procedure. The surgeon may have done a terrific job, even if the patient still isn’t ready for Hollywood.
Ready for an online consultation? CONTACT Dr. Machida Inland Empire, CA
After a year of doing everything possible online, many prefer an online consultation before they ever go to the office. And since webcams and Zoom are notorious for making you look your worst, it’s best to also send photos to the surgeon you’re considering. A good still photo can reveal a lot to an experienced facial plastic surgeon.
After the surgeon examines your photos and sees you online, ask about all costs for the procedure you’re considering. I openly discuss costs with new patients. It’s better to know exactly what you’ll need to pay so you can plan appropriately. A highly experienced surgeon can often cut costs without cutting corners – see “How to Make a $16,000 Beverly Hills-Quality Facelift Cost Much Less.”
Choose the right facial plastic surgeon online to look better on Zoom
You may have Zoom meetings for a long time. As you can read in “The Facelift Price – Is it a Good Economic Investment?” research reveals that there is a real benefit to looking your best and a real penalty for looking old and tired. This is a great time to reap the benefits of improving your appearance. Choosing the right facial plastic surgeon online is a good way to start.
If you’re in Inland Empire California near Los Angeles, you can find me at STC Plastic Surgery in Ontario.
