FAQs

Board certification is extremely important because it ensures that surgeons have completed specialized training in their areas of focus, met the rigorous standards required by their respective boards, as well as completed special examinations and maintenance of certification. Depending on the type of cosmetic surgery you are going to have, your surgeon should be certified by one of two boards: the American Board of Plastic Surgery – for full-body plastic surgery procedures – and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – specifically for facial plastic surgery procedures.

Dr. Bassichis at the Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery Center is board certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. If your doctor is board-certified, you are assured that he is highly skilled and can help you achieve the results you desire.

Facial plastic surgeons perform cosmetic and reconstructive surgery on the face, head, and neck regions only. Training includes one or two years of post-graduate training in general surgery residency, at least four additional years of specialty training in head and neck surgery, and subspecialty fellowship training in facial plastic surgery. A general plastic surgeon performs both face and body procedures. Training includes three to five years in general surgery residency and two years of specialty general plastic surgery training in all body areas. “Trust your face to a Facial Plastic Surgeon.”

If you are not having your surgery at an accredited hospital, be sure the surgery center meets all the safety and quality standards of a hospital and is licensed by the State Board of Health and accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. Additionally, be certain that the anesthesiologists and other providers (i.e., nurses) are board-certified in their specialties.

At the Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery Center, we have affiliations with many different reputable hospitals and surgery centers around metro-Dallas to meet your needs. We have carefully selected these locations which will give our patients the best care and experience during their procedures, as well as offer the convenience of location.

Additionally, as our primary goal is to take the best care of you, we facilitate your facial plastic surgery experience to ensure your safety, which is why we choose to work only with physician-provided anesthesia. You can rest assured that you will receive the best care at our practice.

Aesthetic plastic surgery is structural cosmetic surgery including changing the shape of normal structures (nose, ears, chin, cheekbones, and neckline) in order to improve the patient’s appearance and help reverse the signs of aging. Reconstructive surgery is performed on the abnormal structures of the face and body, caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease. It is generally performed to improve function, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance.

Appearance plays a big role in the lives of most people. We begin each day looking in the mirror-washing our face, brushing teeth, combing hair, shaving, or putting on make-up. For some, the reflection can cause displeasure due to accidents, birth defects, or other signs such as premature aging. Many of these conditions can be improved surgically and many people choose to put their faces in the hands of a facial plastic surgeon. A facial plastic surgeon specializes in performing cosmetic and reconstructive surgery on the face, head, and neck region.

The reasons for facial plastic surgery are varied. Some patients suffer from birth disfigurements such as birthmarks, cleft palates, and congenital facial deformities. Others are victims of accidents, burns, diseases, and the treatment required for such diseases. Many choose to change some of the signs of premature aging or the shape or size of a facial feature that has bothered them for years.

One aspect of facial plastic surgery that cannot be ignored is the patient’s mental and emotional attitudes. Facial surgery can help you increase self-confidence because, for most people, when they look better, then generally feel better.

Cosmetic surgery is elective surgery. You should feel comfortable and confident with the practice and surgeon you select for your procedure. Don’t hesitate to discuss all your concerns with the practice. Our experience has been that the well-informed patient is the happiest. Be sure to ask your physician if they are board-certified in their area of specialty. Ask how many procedures of the type you are undergoing he/she performs on a regular basis. It is important that the surgeon regularly performs your type of surgery. Additionally, ask to see before and after results from the surgeon’s portfolio.

Good candidates for cosmetic surgery are in good general health, have a healthy outlook on life, and want to improve a particular aspect of their appearance. When considering if Facial Plastic Surgery is right for you, look not only in the mirror but inside yourself, to determine what your inner expectations are for your procedure. At the Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery Center, we strive to satisfy healthy honest expectations in helping you achieve your goals.

What is Aesthetics?
Aesthetics services at our center through our Medi.SPA are those that rejuvenate the skin and the spirit — including facials, chemical peels, Microdermabrasion, Photofacials, and hair removal — all in a safe, medical environment under the supervision of our physicians. These services improve the appearance of the face and body without surgery. An aesthetician performs these types of services and is trained and certified in the art of medical skincare and medical skincare products.

We know you will be pleased and rejuvenated by the wonderful services at our Medi.SPA. We look forward to pampering you!

Before you have any procedures, ask your aesthetician how many of these he/she performs on a regular basis. It is important to work with someone who is experienced and who you feel comfortable with.

Discuss the type of procedures you wish to have with your aesthetician and ask about any side effects or potential reactions. Be sure to inform him/her about any skincare problems, medical conditions, or medications you are taking. Ask about the successes and results he/she has had with your particular treatment. After discussing these issues with the aesthetician, we will prescribe a personalized Skin Care and Aesthetics regimen tailored to your special needs.

If you decide to undergo facial cosmetic surgery, you are making an investment and need to pay particular attention to proper skin care. An aesthetician in a medical environment will be able to assist you with your medical skincare needs. It is safest to work with an aesthetician who performs services under the on-site supervision of a facial plastic surgeon to be certain that you receive the optimal care and benefit from your services.

Facial Plastic surgeons are board-certified by boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). A facial plastic surgeon is board-certified in Otolaryngology – surgery of the head and neck. To become board-certified, a physician must pass a series of rigorous oral and written tests about medical procedures and practices. Many Facial Plastic surgeons, such as Dr. Bassichis, specialize further by undertaking an additional year’s fellowship in facial plastic surgery to become certified by the prestigious American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS).

Certification by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery means that the facial plastic surgeon:

• Has completed an approved residency after medical school in one of two surgical specialties focusing on facial plastic surgery (otolaryngology – head and neck surgery or plastic surgery)
• Is certified by two boards, having earned prior certification in one of those specialties through the American Board of Medical Specialties or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada, and ABFPRS certification
• Has successfully completed a two-day examination
• Has completed at least two years of clinical experience, including operative reports of a minimum of 100 facial plastic surgery cases

All practicing physicians have the same basic training: a four-year undergraduate degree (BS or BA), four years of medical school (MD), and at least one year of residency (sometimes called internship). Then it changes. In the following years, either a medical or surgical path is taken. Thus, most dermatologists are not considered surgeons since their medical residency does not include surgical training in invasive procedures, although they are specialists in skin health.

Two closely aligned surgical specialties are facial plastic surgery and general plastic surgery. Both types of surgeons complete the same undergraduate and medical school degrees, followed by a general surgery internship. General surgery involves the most common surgical procedures: hernia repairs, appendectomies, gallbladder removals, etc. The internship serves to acquaint the young physician with the basics of surgical technique, patient care, and anatomy; but neither the facial plastic nor general plastic surgeon will continue to perform those surgeries once in practice.

The focus of the two differing, rigorous surgical residencies are different:

Facial Plastic Surgeon

• 1-2 years of general surgery (internship)
• 4 years studying surgeries of the head and neck (an otolaryngology residency)
• 1 year of facial plastic surgery (fellowship)

Plastic Surgeon

• 3-5 years of general surgery (internship/first residency)
• 2 years of plastic surgery (second residency)

For instance, Dr. Bassichis’s final five years of training focused exclusively on the surgical anatomy, physiology, and medicine of the face, head, and neck. This in-depth concentration provides the facial plastic surgeon with a strong background in the exact area you want to have your surgery and specialization in both functional and aesthetic features of the Face.

By way of contrast, a plastic surgeon completes three to five years of general surgery before pursuing two years of specialty training. The two-year plastic surgery residency covers a wide range of diverse areas all over the body and face. The majority of cosmetic body liposuction, breast augmentation or reduction, butt lifts, and tummy tucks (abdominoplasties) are performed by this type of surgeon.

For your maximized safety and comfort, the Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery Center uses ONLY Board Certified Physician Anesthesiologists (MD Anesthesia). Our MD Anesthesiologists provide excellent care and personalized attention with the highest standard of anesthesia techniques to ensure better safety for our patients, better outcomes, minimized complications, and to give each patient the best opportunity for an uneventful and healthy recovery.