Facial Plastic Surgery Education

The facial plastic surgery component of the Emory otolaryngology residency, managed by Anita B. Sethna, MD, director of Emory Otolaryngology Facial Plastic Surgery, exposes residents to all aspects of the field.

The program's primary clinical location is the Emory Aesthetic Center, an elegant facility seven miles from Emory University Hospital Midtown. The center provides the highest quality service in a private practice-type environment, with operating rooms and overnight care services on site. Patients of all ages are seen for aesthetic facial concerns, both inherited and age related; cosmetic and/or functional nasal issues; skin cancer management; Moh's repair; trauma reconstruction; facial paralysis sequelae correction; and other conditions.

The core curriculum includes six hours of lectures and board review per year dedicated to facial plastic surgery. The program is designed as a two-year cycle, during which residents are expected to read the most recent edition of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery by Ira D. Papel. Each didactic session is based on the assigned reading for that week and is moderated by either Dr. Sethna or a guest lecturer with expertise in facial plastic surgery.

An annual rhinoplasty dissection course is held in conjunction with a sinus dissection course in the spring in Emory Otolaryngology's world-class temporal bone dissection lab. Dr. Sethna organizes the course, which includes participation by some of the best rhinoplasty surgeons in the Atlanta area.

Research is an important component to the education available at Emory, and all otolaryngology residents are encouraged to engage in clinical research opportunities at the Emory Aesthetic Center.

Rotations

PGY-3: Rotation at the Emory Aesthetic Center, one one-month block

PGY-5: Rotation at the Emory Aesthetic Center, one two-month block

During their rotation, residents are encouraged to work with other board-certified facial plastic surgeons at an area private practice that has a fellowship program as well as with Emory oculoplastic specialists.

The Atlanta VA Healthcare System offers residents the best opportunity to be the primary surgeon performing aesthetic facial procedures. Residents are expected to identify facial plastic surgery functional, aesthetic, or reconstructive cases to further their hands-on experience, and will be supervised by an Emory faculty member or a facial plastic surgery fellow from an Atlanta plastic surgery fellowship overseen by Dr. Louis DeJoseph. The fellow functions as a clinical instructor in otolaryngology and facial plastic surgery at both the VA HCS and Grady Memorial Hospital.

The facial trauma experience at Emory is significant, and is primarily gained from the rotation at Grady Memorial Hospital. Emory otolaryngology residents will be guided by Dr. Sethna, senior residents, Grady faculty, and others in the proper management of the facial trauma patient.

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