Why Choosing a Double Board

Offered at our convenient location in Baltimore, Maryland

Why Choosing a Double Board – Certified Plastic Surgeon & ENT Matters
When exploring plastic surgery, it is often daunting to choose the surgeon you want to work with. It can feel like everyone you come across is a leading surgeon in their city, regardless of the treatments or procedures they offer. With this guide, you can learn more about what training and credentials to look for to ensure you make the best decisions for your health, well-being, and aesthetic appearance.

Dr. Alyson Wells of Valley Plastic Surgery & Medi-Spa is a double board-certified plastic surgeon and a teaching physician in the greater Baltimore-Washington area. Dr. Wells brings extensive experience performing face, breasts, and body procedures, and she has helped countless patients achieve natural-looking results they feel confident with.

If you are interested in working with Dr. Wells, we invite you to fill out our contact form. You can also call (410) 628-8200 to reach our Cockeysville office.

About Choosing A Plastic Surgeon

Choosing your plastic surgeon is one of the first steps you take when deciding to undergo a procedure. This step is also one of the most important in your aesthetic or reconstructive journey; the expertise and training your plastic surgeon has will directly influence the quality and appearance of your results!

What is an ENT?

An ENT (ear, nose, throat doctor) is another name for an otolaryngologist. (1) This is a field within medicine that focuses on providing care to all areas of the head and neck, except for:

  • The brain
  • The contents of the eye sockets
  • The spine
  • Vascular diseases affecting the blood vessels (2)

In addition to being a plastic surgeon, Dr. Wells is an ENT, which means she has received specialized training and instruction exclusive to this specialty. This has given her the unique knowledge and technical experience to enhance and recontour the delicate yet complex structures that make up our face.

What is a Board Certification, and Why Does It Matter?

Dr. Wells is double board-certified, which means she is held to a higher standard of patient care and safety and has undergone extensive training and testing. There are 24 certifying boards under the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), each of which have their own testing process and requirements. Dr. Wells is board-certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, which means she has successfully met all requirements and passed her examinations for both of these medical boards.

How Does One Become a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon?

Plastic surgery focuses on repairing or reconstructing features to either restore their functionality or enhance their aesthetic appearance. When a plastic surgeon seeks board certification, they must complete 5 progressive years of clinical general surgery residency training. They must then complete a minimum of 3 years of plastic surgery training or 6 years of an integrated program.

From there, they must take a written and oral examination. The written examination is a single-day exam that has 300 questions, and the oral examination takes 2.5 days to complete and consists of 5 case reports that each candidate prepares. (3)

How Does One Become a Board-Certified ENT

When becoming board-certified in otolaryngology, a surgeon must first complete a full-time residency program. Similar to the process for becoming a board-certified plastic surgeon, candidates must then complete both a written and an oral examination.

The written examination consists of 300 questions, and each candidate takes it within a single day. Once the candidate has passed this exam, they will then need to complete an oral examination. They will need to compile 40 operatively managed cases and 40 non-operatively managed cases. The examination board will then pre-select ten cases and test the doctor on these selected cases over the course of two 50-minute sessions, with proctors testing on five cases per session. (4)

Dr. Wells’s Training and Credentials

One of the first things you should research when choosing who to work with is where your doctor received their training and what credentials they hold. Surgeons should clearly display these key pieces of information.

Dr. Wells initially received her undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of Tennessee. Here, she received a full-tuition academic merit scholarship and was awarded the distinction of being the most outstanding senior in the chemistry major.

She then followed her training by attending medical school at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. This institution is not only one of the top medical schools in the country, but one of the leading medical schools worldwide. As she studied here, she was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha. This is the only honors society for medical students, and membership is based on academic merit.

Dr. Wells followed her schooling by completing her first internship and residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery named her as Outstanding Chief Resident. This residency kindled her interest in facial reconstruction and cosmetic surgery, which prompted her to complete a second residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at The University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Wells’s Hospital Positions and Affiliations

In addition to understanding your surgeon’s credentials and training, it is important to know the hospitals they are affiliated with and whether they hold any positions outside their private practice.

Dr. Wells serves as:

  • Chief, Division of Plastic Surgery, Greater Baltimore Medical Center
  • Assistant Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Part-Time, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Part-Time, The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Dr. Wells’s Available Procedures

Dr. Wells offers extensive experience performing procedures across each region of the body, including the head, breasts, and body, and her additional background in otolaryngology has given her deeper insight into the more intricate structures of the face and throat.

Dr. Wells always asks each patient to attend a consultation before scheduling their procedure. This allows her not only to establish a more meaningful relationship with them but also to ensure that the treatment plan she creates is the most effective at addressing their needs.

Surgical Procedures

Surgical procedures manipulate soft tissues, muscles, skin, bone, or cartilaginous structures to elevate your natural appearance. Dr. Wells performs these procedures when addressing more significant concerns, as they offer longer-lasting and more in-depth results compared to non-surgical treatments. Her surgical procedures are divided into several categories, including:

Each of these categories consists of procedures you may be familiar with, such as:

Non-Surgical Treatments

Non-surgical treatments are aesthetic solutions that can refresh your appearance often without long incisions, general anesthesia, or more downtime. Dr. Wells typically performs these treatments to address skin concerns or minor signs of aging. A few of Dr. Wells’s treatments include:

Cost of Plastic Surgery in Baltimore, Maryland

The cost of plastic surgery will vary from patient to patient depending on the details of their treatment plan. This can include the exact procedure Dr. Wells performs, the type of corrections being performed, and the complexity of the procedure overall. Once you have met with her to establish each of these factors, she will discuss your financial obligations with you. Dr. Wells additionally offers financing for those who qualify.

For more information about our pricing, we invite you to either schedule a consultation online or call our office directly at (410) 628-8200.

FAQ

Is there a difference between an ENT doctor and an otolaryngologist?

An ENT doctor and an otolaryngologist are two different names for a doctor who treats conditions affecting the head and neck. These doctors can perform surgical and non-surgical treatments and procedures across the ears, mouth, throat, nose, neck, and face.

What board certifications does Dr. Wells hold?

Dr. Wells is board-certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

Is there a difference between plastic surgery procedures and ENT procedures?

Plastic surgery encompasses procedures that can improve the appearance and functionality of your whole body, including your face, breasts, and body. On the other hand, ENT procedures focus on the head and neck.

How can I verify a surgeon’s board certifications?

You can verify a doctor’s board certifications on the ABMS website.

How will I know if I am a candidate for plastic surgery?

Attending a personal consultation is the best way to determine whether you are a candidate for plastic surgery and the specific procedures you qualify for.

References

  1. Cleveland Clinic. What’s an otolaryngologist and what do they do? Cleveland Clinic. Published January 20, 2023. Accessed July 8, 2026. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24635-otolaryngologist
  2. About Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery | American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. Abohns.org. Published 2025. Accessed July 8, 2026. https://www.abohns.org/about-otolaryngology-head-and-neck-surgery
  3. ABPlasticSurgery.org. Abplasticsurgery.org. Published 2026. Accessed July 8, 2026. https://www.abplasticsurgery.org/candidates/written-examination/
  4. Our Assessment Programs | American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. Abohns.org. Published 2024. Accessed July 8, 2026. https://www.abohns.org/about-our-certifications/our-assessment-programs