Otoplasty procedures are a highly popular choice for many people within Sydney and throughout Australia.…
In this post, we’ll take a look at the role of an ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgeon. We’ll find out what they do on a day-to-day basis, how to become an ENT surgeon in Australia and some of the common surgeries they carry out, which include:
An ENT surgeon is qualified to treat conditions relating to the ear, nose and throat and perform surgeries on these areas.
As well as being qualified to carry out surgeries, an ENT surgeon will be able to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the ear, nose and throat through other methods such as prescribing a course of medication or medical management.
As mentioned above, some of the most common surgeries performed by an ENT surgeon include sinus surgery to open up the sinuses and clear blockages, removal of the tonsils, which is often performed to help patients who suffer frequent bouts of tonsillitis or sleep apnoea, and grommet surgery, when small tubes are put inside the ear to drain fluid away to alleviate the condition glue ear.
An ENT surgeon, through additional training and fellowships can also turn their hand to cosmetic surgeries such as rhinoplasty to change the look of the nose; otoplasty (ear pinning surgery) to change the position, shape or size of the ears; and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) to remove excess skin and bagginess from around the eyes for a fresher look.
There are many other procedures that an ENT surgeon is qualified to carry out — in short, surgeries involving the ear, nose, throat, sinuses or larynx.
An otolaryngologist is another term for an ENT surgeon.
Essentially, their job title means that they are trained to specialise in diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the ear, nose and throat. This includes performing surgery on these areas.
Some of the conditions they treat include:
As we’ve seen above, they are qualified to carry out a wide range of surgeries, and they may also be highly skilled in performing cosmetic procedures to change or enhance the look of the ears or nose, or other aspects of the face.
An ENT surgeon in Australia will first undergo basic medical training at university, which lasts for five to six years. Then they will complete a fellowship, which is a closely supervised few years of training, consulting and exams in a selection of different specialties.
Next comes residency, when the ENT surgeon-to-be works in hospitals for a period of one to three years to develop more specialist knowledge and experience. The final step in the process is specialty training in otolaryngology, for a duration of three to seven years. Along the way, they will be continuously assessed and will undergo tough examinations to ensure their knowledge and skills are of the highest calibre.
ENT surgeons may go on to specialise even further within their field through fellowship training and focus on areas such as allergies, paediatric (affecting children) otolaryngology or rhinoplasty.
Are you looking for an Australian trained and qualified specialist ENT surgeon? Dr Shahidi, who has received the Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) — the highest qualification awarded to Australian surgeons — is happy to help.
Contact Dr Shahidi’s friendly team to arrange your appointment today.