Were you specifically trained in the field of plastic surgery?
Training and certification are two different answers
Training is the path a surgeon followed, such as residency and any fellowship. Certification is a credential issued by a board. For eyelid surgery, ask about both, because one does not answer the other.
Plastic, facial plastic and oculofacial paths
When you ask about training, you are asking what path led the surgeon to eyelid work. Plastic surgery, facial plastic surgery and oculofacial surgery are three fields you may hear named, so ask exactly which path your surgeon followed rather than assume. A plastic surgery certifying board keeps a page for the public that is one place to read about certification before you ask.
A plastic surgery society's article on how to find a plastic surgeon is an example of how a professional group frames the search in public. Reading it helps you know what to listen for when a surgeon explains their background.
Before you go, it also helps to read The Aesthetic Society page on plastic surgeon board certification and the Washington Medical Commission frequently asked questions. Then your questions about training sit next to your questions about board certification and a Washington medical license.
Residency, fellowship and board questions
- Ask where the surgeon completed residency and whether they did a fellowship.
- Ask which board certifications they hold, and which board issued each one.
- Ask how many eyelid procedures they perform in a typical year.
- Ask the same questions at every consultation around Redmond so you can compare answers side by side.
- Write the answers down and check them with the certifying organization or the surgeon's office.
Weighing what the surgeon tells you
Published pages give background, and a licensed surgeon gives advice about your own situation.