Facial Plastic Surgeon in San Diego on Choosing the Appropriate Procedure
A recent study from the American Academy of Facial and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery (AAFRPS) found that 75% of all procedures performed by facial plastic surgeons in 2008 were nonsurgical in nature. However, San Diego facial plastic surgeon Dr. John Hilinski says his practice is quite different when compared to the AAFRPS statistics. When choosing a procedure, he stresses the need to work with patients to determine which approach will meet their long-term cosmetic enhancement goals and expectations.
While the latest study from the American Academy of Facial and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery (AAFRPS) shows nearly three-quarters of procedures performed by facial plastic surgeons are nonsurgical in nature, Dr. John Hilinski says the breakdown at his San Diego facial plastic surgery practice varies significantly. “In my practice, I would say 50-60% of our procedures are surgical. About 40% of our time is dedicated to performing nonsurgical, office-based cosmetic enhancement procedures.”
Dr. Hilinski says he works with each patient to determine which procedure will provide the best long-term result with the least amount of effort. “In many cases surgical approaches happen to provide a better long-term outcome so we often opt for this pathway.” However, Dr. Hilinski also acknowledges that his patients are concerned with the amount of recovery time and the overall invasiveness of more traditional procedures, and are increasingly interested in nonsurgical options such as BOTOX Cosmetic® or injectable fillers. “We are in an era of minimal downtime and many patients would rather choose the less invasive option since there is less recovery time involved.”
While Dr. Hilinski says his practice has experienced an increase in noninvasive procedures, he stresses that when it comes to patients considering procedures such as nasal reshaping, there is no substitute for procedures such as rhinoplasty. When trying to find the right surgeon and determine the appropriate procedure, Dr. Hilinski says in addition to choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon that is committed to helping them find the right procedure for their goals, patients need to consider the extent of a surgeon’s experience. “The single most important factor is choosing someone who has dedicated experience in that particular sub-specialty. Why not go to the plastic surgeon who does a particular procedure on a consistent basis.”
About John Hilinski, MD
Dr. John Hilinski earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He then completed his general surgery internship at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center, followed by a Head and Neck Surgery Residency. Dr. Hilinski also completed a facial plastic and reconstructive surgery fellowship at the University of Illinois, Chicago Medical Center, and a research fellowship with the National Institutes of Health. He is a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and the California Society of Facial Plastic Surgery.
Dr. John Hilinski’s facial plastic surgery practice is located at 3720 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103, and can be reached at (619) 296-3223 or found online at drhilinski.com or facebook.com/drhilinski.
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