Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Sometimes I am fortunate enough to have observers from other countries watch me perform rhinoplasty surgery in New York City. This is a photo of Dr. Wen, a visiting surgeon from China that spent some time in my operating room. He was extremely pleasant and inquisitive, and I know he learned a great deal. Some day perhaps I will be able to visit him in China. Minas Constantinides, MD.

In a recent article on Medscape.com, Dr. James Wells, MD, Past President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, continued the negative campaign disparaging every doctor other than general plastic surgeons who perform plastic surgery. He particularly disparaged the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, and every other Board not a member of the ABMS. In this list would also be the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS).

What Dr. Wells did not point out is that the ABFPRS is the ONLY non-ABMS Board that has been recognized by the courts in 4 states as being ABMS-equivalent. Why would the courts have had to get involved in all of this? Because for years general plastic surgeons such as Dr. Wells have tried, to no avail, to restrict the practice of plastic surgery to themselves. They have sued members of the ABFPRS to try to stop them from calling themselves Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeons.

Every time this designation was challenged, it was defeated. In fact, in Georgia the plastic surgeons were forced to pay a large settlement to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, which then helped to found the ABFPRS. Did Dr. Wells mention any of this in his interview?

For years general plastic surgeons have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to persuade the public that they are the only ones “qualified” to perform plastic surgery. Facial plastic surgeons, on the other hand, have had 4 years of specialty training on surgery in the head and neck area (this is after 1-2 years of general surgery), 1 additional year of specialty training in facial plastic surgery exclusively, and have passed 2 Board exams: the American Board of Otolaryngology (an ABMS Board) and the ABFPRS. The ABFPRS exam is a rigorous oral and written exam, but it is not enough to pass it. After passing, the applicant must submit a case list of 100 facial plastic surgery cases in a 2-year period. If the list is accepted, only then will he be given Board-certification by the ABFPRS and be able to call himself Board-certified in Facial Plastic Surgery.

Unlike the ABPS, the ABFPRS allows general plastic surgeons to be certified by it. Isn’t it time to stop quibbling over who is better trained and which Board can certify a surgeon? Isn’t it time to unite our efforts and learn from one another. Fortunately, people like Dr. Wells are becoming a diminishing minority. Younger generations, myself included, have fought for inclusivity rather than exclusivity. In combined meetings, we have been able to share our ideas, experiences and philosophies so everyone benefits. This is much more constructive than the divisive finger-pointing that Dr. Wells advocates. In the end, the best results are achieved by the surgeon who is an expert in his field through training and experience. Which Board certifies the surgeon is a small matter as long as the surgeon is ethical, thoughtful and skilled. Most of us understand this. As do most patients.
Minas Constantinides, M.D.

Follow me on Twitter @drconstantinide. www.twitter.com

Here is a photo of Dr. Yong Ju Jang of Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Peter Adamson (my mentor) from Toronto, Canada, Dr. Suzanne Galli from Washington, D.C., and me at dinner in Seattle. The wonderful thing about these meetings is meeting new surgeons from around the world that share my passion for rhinoplasty. The couple behind us also seem to be enjoying the photo!

I had not been back to Seattle since my college girlfriend invited me there to meet her family. 25 years later, I finally returned as a speaker at the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery Semi-Annual Rhinoplasty course. This 4-day marathon, followed by a day of cadaver dissection for attendees, is the most reputable and longest-running course in rhinoplasty in the world. It is a direct outgrowth of the original rhinoplasty course in New York City given at Mt. Sinai hospital. At this year’s course, I challenged the audience to objectively evaluate whether spreader grafts in rhinoplasty actually work. I gave convincing evidence that they may be good for structural support, but not so good at opening a narrow internal nasal valve. Afterwards, I received numerous acknowledgemets from audience members about how my theories resonated with them. I also had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Alexander Berghaus of Munich, Germany, who has invited me to participate in his Rhinoplasty Course in September. In Europe the courses include live surgery, something that for a number of reasons is no longer offered in most courses in the U.S. The Munich course follows the European Society of Facial Plastic Surgery Annual Meeting in Porto, Portugal, that I am also speaking in. With all these invitations, I have set a new goal for myself: To give talks in every country in the world!
Dr. Constantinides.

Last week I again was an invited speaker at the Facial Plastic Surgery Meeting in Las Vegas with Melissa. I spoke about new techniques in Rhinoplasty and the Physician-Patient Consultation. The meeting also included fantastic talks on every aspect of facial plastic surgery including Dysport, the new botulinum type A toxin. Face lift, eyelid lifts, and the latest laser techniques were discussed. The Bellagio was again a fantastic venue, with the most beautiful pools in Las Vegas. Nights were spent dancing, eating, and enjoying new friends from all over the world. This meeting has become a tradition for Melissa and me, a time to be away from New York, meet new people in Facial Plastic Surgery, and re-connect. Both of us can’t wait until next year!