OMFS and Plastic Surgery Difference

[Pelotari]

Hi,

I find OMFS to be an extremely interesting area. I haven't found the answer to my question anywhere, so here it goes hoping to get the experts' views...

It is not clear to me where the line is drawn (if any) between an OMFS and a plastic surgeon. I understand that plastic surgeons perform liposuctions, rhinoplasties, breast implants, etc. However, when it comes to the head and neck, what are the differences between these two specialties? Is there a professional line won't be crossed by either specialist in order to avoid "stepping on someone else's toes" ? For instance, does an OMFS routinely perform cosmetic work on the nose / mandible, or is their practice focused on trauma (e.g. broken jaws / teeth) and craniofacial defects (e.g. cleft palate, etc)?

Thanks in advance.

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[Jediwendell]

A typical oral surgeon does third molars and implants. There may be a little cosmetic stuff in there, but most don't do much. A typical plastic surgeon does breasts and lipo, and may do a bit more facial cosmetics, depending on the surgeon. Some OMS guys do almost all plastics, and some do none. Some that I know have done a full plastics fellowship to get trained to do all of the other things that plastic surgeons do. You are really only limited by your training. I think that OMS guys probably shouldn't be doing much below the clavicles, however. Not because they can't do it, but I think it looks bad for the profession.

 

[toofache32]

I think that OMS guys probably shouldn't be doing much below the clavicles, however. Not because they can't do it, but I think it looks bad for the profession.

I tend to agree with this.

The training for both specialties tends to be much different than what you actually do in private practice. People tend to go where the money is. Oral surgeons tend to stick with wisdom teeth because you can get $1500-$2000 for the procedure which takes only about 30 minutes. Dental implants are similar. There are also very few pre-op and post-op issues to deal with. In contrast, a nose-job can get you $3000-$4000 but it takes you 2-3 hours to do it. There is also a lot more pre- and post-op time spent with the patient that is included in this fee. It's even worse for craniofacial/cleft deformities because most of these have to be done in a hospital, which further decreases your time efficiency and is more of a headache.

 

[esclavo]

Hi,

I find OMFS to be an extremely interesting area. I haven't found the answer to my question anywhere, so here it goes hoping to get the experts' views...

It is not clear to me where the line is drawn (if any) between an OMFS and a plastic surgeon. I understand that plastic surgeons perform liposuctions, rhinoplasties, breast implants, etc. However, when it comes to the head and neck, what are the differences between these two specialties? Is there a professional line won't be crossed by either specialist in order to avoid "stepping on someone else's toes" ? For instance, does an OMFS routinely perform cosmetic work on the nose / mandible, or is their practice focused on trauma (e.g. broken jaws / teeth) and craniofacial defects (e.g. cleft palate, etc)?

Thanks in advance.

Have you ever seen a multiple mandible fracture repair done by a plastic surgeon? If all the fractures aren't favorable and all the teeth intact, you are in for a treat. I think they should send all plastic surgery residents who want to take head and neck trauma call to a class on occlusion! Poor patients occlusion looked like a cellar full of deer antlers.

 

[OMFS2B]

Have you ever seen a multiple mandible fracture repair done by a plastic surgeon? If all the fractures aren't favorable and all the teeth intact, you are in for a treat. I think they should send all plastic surgery residents who want to take head and neck trauma call to a class on occlusion! Poor patients occlusion looked like a cellar full of deer antlers.

Better yet, how about when they do a 2-jaw orthognathic case!

 

[jiggapigga]

some plastics ppl know their occlusion. i woudln't paint the whole community with the same brush. There are some omfs ppl who suck at orthognathics regardless of "knowing occlusion". either or. if omfs does a plastics procedure and we mess up a tiny bit, theya re going to jump on us as much as we jump on them for mistakes.

 

[rocknightmare]

"wisdom teeth because you can get $1500-$2000 for the procedure which takes only about 30 minutes. "

are you serious? man i thought it was around a one grand.

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

are you serious? man i thought it was around a one grand.

That's the fee for EXT of thirds without local...

 

[esclavo]

some plastics ppl know their occlusion. i woudln't paint the whole community with the same brush. There are some omfs ppl who suck at orthognathics regardless of "knowing occlusion". either or. if omfs does a plastics procedure and we mess up a tiny bit, theya re going to jump on us as much as we jump on them for mistakes.

The reason I have no qualms about being critical with plastics is they are twice that ridiculous with us. Thus, I apply their level of scrutiny to them. Trust me, we get railed by them and ENT. I love seeing how the "shoe fits on the other foot". These guys can be "eyes wide open" looking at others and "eyes half shut" looking at themselves...

 

[toofache32]

The reason I have no qualms about being critical with plastics is they are twice that ridiculous with us. Thus, I apply their level of scrutiny to them. Trust me, we get railed by them and ENT. I love seeing how the "shoe fits on the other foot". These guys can be "eyes wide open" looking at others and "eyes half shut" looking at themselves...

I definately agree with that.

 

[Extraction]

I definately agree with that.

ponder this...
to get into plastics surgery you have to get good grades, boards, etc and never have your hand skills or perceptual abilities tested
to get into OMFS you have to do well in dental school, which requires good hand skills and depth perception (unless you go to a dental school that doesnt rank)

who do you want working on your face?

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

who do you want working on your face?

A tall, thin blonde with a Brazilian...

 

[toofache32]

A tall, thin blonde with a Brazilian...

....landing strip?

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

....landing strip?

Wow, you're not as stupid as you looked in your photo!

 

[Bifid Uvula]

A tall, thin blonde with a Brazilian...

I think he said working, not sitting.... But i like how u think!

 

[Doggie]

....landing strip?

even the landing strip is too much cuz it tickles....

 

[toofache32]

even the landing strip is too much cuz it tickles....

Tickles who? I've got a landing strip on my chin...

 

[toofache32]

Wow, you're not as stupid as you looked in your photo!

I still don't understand why you guys bash on the way I look.

 

[Bifid Uvula]

I still don't understand why you guys bash on the way I look.

Carefull now with that picture... There are some periodontists out there that might get a litte too turned on.

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

I think he said working, not sitting.... But i like how u think!

In my experience, I'd call it working, NOT sitting...

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

Carefull now with that picture... There are some periodontists out there that might get a litte too turned on.

Actually, that's Dr. Klenemgums. He is a periodontist.

 

[KifsterDDS]

Plastic surgeons can generally do anything they want. They have little trouble getting hospital privileges to do all kinds of cosmetic surgeries. Oral surgeons have a little bit of a tougher time, especially the single-degree guys.

The other difference (in favor of oral surgeons) is that oral surgeons get anesthesia training, and unlike plastic surgeons can sedate people in their office.

In reality, oral surgeons end up in one of two categories: the private practice guys who do primarily dentoalveolar surgery, pathology, some orthognathics, and perhaps a sprinkling of cosmetics. Others will stay in academics where they'll get to focus on whatever they want (making less money than the guys in private practice, of course).

There are some exceptions to this, of course. I know of a few in private practice who do lots of cosmetics, but they are few and far between. You have to remember that as a specialist, your patient base comes from referrals. Very few physicians will refer their patients to an oral surgeon for facial cosmetic work. And general dentists only refer patients to oral surgeons who need traditional oral surgery procedures (i.e. 3rd molars, pre-prosthetic surgery, pathology, etc.) So, where do you think oral surgeons get their cosmetic work? Exactly! They get very little of it, unless they've had extraordinary luck establishing themselves as cosmetic specialists.

Hi,

I find OMFS to be an extremely interesting area. I haven't found the answer to my question anywhere, so here it goes hoping to get the experts' views...

It is not clear to me where the line is drawn (if any) between an OMFS and a plastic surgeon. I understand that plastic surgeons perform liposuctions, rhinoplasties, breast implants, etc. However, when it comes to the head and neck, what are the differences between these two specialties? Is there a professional line won't be crossed by either specialist in order to avoid "stepping on someone else's toes" ? For instance, does an OMFS routinely perform cosmetic work on the nose / mandible, or is their practice focused on trauma (e.g. broken jaws / teeth) and craniofacial defects (e.g. cleft palate, etc)?

Thanks in advance.

 

[toofache32]

You have to remember that as a specialist, your patient base comes from referrals. Very few physicians will refer their patients to an oral surgeon for facial cosmetic work. And general dentists only refer patients to oral surgeons who need traditional oral surgery procedures (i.e. 3rd molars, pre-prosthetic surgery, pathology, etc.) So, where do you think oral surgeons get their cosmetic work? Exactly! They get very little of it, unless they've had extraordinary luck establishing themselves as cosmetic specialists.

Cosmetic surgery is generally not as "referal based" from other healthcare providers. It tends to come from more word of mouth and advertising, even though some patients will ask for other doctors' opinions.

Many oral surgeons who do cosmetics market internally in their practices, because they have a steady stream of older implant patients who also tend to have skin laxity, etc. People who have the money for implants generally have the money for other procedures as well. Often the implants are done at the same time as other procedures on the face.

 

[Jediwendell]

nm

 

[Bifid Uvula]

In Oral Surgery, its generally not acceptible to feel your patient's boobies and suggest to make them bigger... Too bad it would make those TMJ consults much more exciting and rewarding.

 

[jiggapigga]

amen to that

In Oral Surgery, its generally not acceptible to feel your patient's boobies and suggest to make them bigger... Too bad it would make those TMJ consults much more exciting and rewarding.

 

[toofache32]

In Oral Surgery, its generally not acceptible to feel your patient's boobies and suggest to make them bigger...

...unless they're under nitrous.

 

[aphistis]

In Oral Surgery, its generally not acceptible to feel your patient's boobies and suggest to make them bigger... Too bad it would make those TMJ consults much more exciting and rewarding.

Don't tell me you've never done a little extra palpation on a nice pair of condyles when you thought no one was looking. We all know better.

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

...unless they're under nitrous.

Didn't you mention earlier that you only use NO2 on kids??? Sick, toof...

I guess I should have seen that coming--wearing a pink dress and all...

 

[toofache32]

I guess I should have seen that coming--wearing a pink dress and all...

It was salmon...get it right smartypants.

 

[aphistis]

Didn't you mention earlier that you only use NO2 on kids??? Sick, toof...

I guess I should have seen that coming--wearing a pink dress and all...

NO2, eh?

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

NO2, eh?

Ha! I didn't even notice...N20...better?

 

[north2southOMFS]

I do believe the breast exam should be added as a critical part of a complete dental exam.

My periodontist instructor once said that treating perio disease has benefical effect on preventing heart disease. So with periodontal logic maybe me treating 3rd molars has benefical effects with preventing breast disease, so i better check em out, right?

Besides, cardsfan is always trying to touch my boobies.