Early Practice Focus: Evidence-Based Practice in Facial Plastic Surgery.

The practice of evidence-based medicine combines physician experience, knowledge of current literature, and patient preferences. Different grading systems are used to evaluate current levels of evidence and recommendations. A variety of common instruments are used to measure outcomes in facial plastic surgery. These instruments are used for expert data collection, including assessment of pathology and response to treatment, or for patient-reported outcome measures, including quality of life, disability, and daily function. Integration of data collection requires storage and protection of health information. We provide an outline to what is involved in understanding evidence-based medicine and incorporating it into daily practice.