Dr. Corliss Best

California Trained Facial Cosmetic Surgeon

Read BioMeet The Team
Home E About E Dr. Corliss Best

Dr. Corliss Best

Facial Cosmetic Surgeon

Dr. Corliss Best, MD, FRCSC is an expert Otolaryngologist – Head and Neck Surgeon practicing in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Ottawa, Canada. Her exclusive focus lies in surgical procedures dedicated to the face and neck. Dr. Best’s aesthetic philosophy centers on enhancing natural beauty, striving for an elegant, elevated appearance that avoids an overly operated or artificial look.

Before embarking on her medical career, Dr. Best immersed herself in the performing arts, particularly classical ballet and competitive dance. With a foundation established at prestigious institutions such as the National Ballet School of Canada, she became a Canadian National Champion at the age of 14, representing her country in international level competitions. Driven by her passion for the arts, she continued to compete and perform across Canada, the United States and Italy into her university years. Ballet instilled in her a profound sense of discipline. It honed her keen eye for aesthetic lines and fostered a deep appreciation for self-expression through beauty. She integrates these elements into her surgical practice everyday.

Combining her love for movement with a strong aptitude for the sciences, Dr. Best pursued an Honors Specialization in Kinesiology at the University of Western Ontario. Following this, she completed medical school at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Her journey continued when she matched to a highly competitive five-year surgical residency in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Ottawa, focusing exclusively on the intricate anatomy of the head and neck. This rigorous training equipped her with solid surgical skills and a network of personal and professional connections in Ottawa, where she planned to return after additional training.

Post-residency, Dr. Best completed a Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery fellowship at the University of California Irvine, standing out as the sole Canadian to secure a fellowship within the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery match that year. She remains the only Canadian accepted into the University of California Irvine’s esteemed fellowship program, where she received extensive hands-on training from world-renowned experts in the heart of facial plastic surgery, “The O.C.”. Her training covered the full spectrum of cosmetic facial procedures, including rhinoplasty, face lifting, neck lifting, blepharoplasty surgery, brow lifting, lip lifting, and fat grafting from experts in Newport Beach, Orange County, San Diego, and Beverly Hills. She also received extensive training in oculoplastic surgery, skin cancer reconstruction, facial trauma reconstruction, and laser therapy for vascular malformations in children. Her time in California earned her accolades for being a highly gifted and technical surgeon. Dr. Best scored within the 99th percentile on her final American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery oral examination.

Beyond the operating room, Dr. Best is highly academic, leading Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery training for residents and medical students at the University of Ottawa. She contributes to the scientific community through manuscript publications, book chapters, educational apps, and conference presentations.

Dr. Best’s commitment extends to outreach initiatives. She participates in the University of Ottawa’s Annual Inner-City Head and Neck Cancer Screening Program. She also collaborates with the University of Ottawa-Nunavut partnership, providing healthcare to underserved populations in Baffin Island.

Education & Training

Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship

2022-2023

American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
The University of California, Irvine
Orange County, California

Medical School

2013-2017

Northern Ontario School of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine

Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Residency

2017-2022

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
The University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario

Undergraduate Degree

2008-2013

Western University
Honours Specialization in Kinesiology

Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship

2022-2023

American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
The University of California, Irvine
Orange County, California

Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Residency

2017-2022

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
The University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario

Medical School

2013-2017

Northern Ontario School of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine

Undergraduate Degree

2008-2013

Western University
Honours Specialization in Kinesiology

Honours & Awards

2023

American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Oral Board Examination 99th Percentile

2022

Wilfred Goodman Award in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

2022

University of Ottawa Otolaryngology Top Grand Rounds Presentation Award

2022

AAFPRS Annual Meeting Fellow Scholarship

2020

University of Ottawa Otolaryngology Resident Quality Care Award

2019

University of Ottawa Poliquin Day Research Award

2018

University of Ottawa Poliquin Day Research Award

2016

Northern Ontario School of Medicine Dean’s Summer Research Award

2016

Northern Ontario School of Medicine Clinical Summer Studentship Award

Credentials & Certification

2023

American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Board Examinations

2022

American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Written Qualifying Exam

2022

United States Medical Licensing Examination Steps 1-3

2021

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Specialist Certification in 2021 Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery

2019

Surgical Foundations Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

2019

Advanced Trauma and Cardiac Life Support

2018

Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part 2

2017

Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part 1

2017

Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS-2) Course on Research Ethics

Scholarly Publications

Best C, Wong BJ. Nasal Valve Management: The Case to Move Away from Grafts to Tensioning.
Review Article, Current Otorhinolaryngology Reports. 2023.

Best C, Best B, Choi J, Sykes J, Javidnia H. Comparisons of Outcomes of Chin Implantation Using Trans-Oral versus Submental Technique, A Systematic Review. The American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, Aug 2022. DOI: 10.1177/07488068221127831

Best C, Hussain J, Johnson-Obaseki S. Alternative sources of cautery in thyroid surgery and the risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. A retrospective, risk-adjusted analysis from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Accepted to Canadian Journal of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, October 2022. JOTO-D-20-00369.

Best C, Quimby A, Johnson-Obaseki S. Do alternative sources of cautery in thyroid surgery alter post-operative hematoma rates or operative time? Scientific Reports, November 2021. EMID:64a455d361f96e5b.

Grose E, Best C, Liao G, Patel M, Levin M, Fung K, McLean L, Kohlert S. LearnENT: The Development of a Free Open Access Medical Education App in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. Journal of Surgical Education. 2020 Nov 4. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2020.10.014.

Kilty S, Best C, Santucci S, Lasso A, Yang W. Self-Reported Improvement for Chronic Rhinosinusitis Major Symptoms in Patients Treated with Omalizumab. Journal of Respiration. 2020 July 08; 1(1)1-7. doi.org/10.3390/jor1010001.

Best C, Best T. Apocrine Carcinoma Arising in a Sebaceous Nevus of the Scalp in a 24-Year-Old Female. Global Surgery Case Reports. 2020 June 22; 2(1):1-2. DOI: 10.31487/j.GSCR.2010.01.01.

Levin M, Grose E, Best C, Kohlert S. A national strategy to engage medical students in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery medical education: The LearnENT Ambassador Program. Perspectives on Medical Education. 2020 Aug 14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40037-020-00607-y.

Best C, Quimby A, Best B, Fergusson D, Alsaffar H. Evaluating the effectiveness of adjuvant radiotherapy in addition to surgery versus surgery alone at improving oncologic outcomes for early stage buccal carcinoma: a systematic review. Journal of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. 2019 Dec; 48, 73. doi:10.1186/s40463-019-0396-x.

Scott GM, Best C, Fung K, Gupta M, Sommer D, Szeto C, Micomonaco D. Impact of Marginalization on Tobacco Use in Individuals Diagnosed with Head and Neck Cancer. Journal of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. 2019 Oct 24;48(1):54. doi: 10.1186/s40463-019-0380-5.

Best T, Best C, Fera L, Best A. Surgical Peripheral Nerve Decompression for the Treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy of the Foot – a Level 1 Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 2018. PMID: 30081106. DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2018.08.002.

Best C, Krishnan R, Malvankar M, Monali M, MacNeil SD. Echocardiogram changes following parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine. 2017;96(43);e7255. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007255. PMID: 29068975.

Scott G, Best C, Micomonaco D. Otolaryngology exposure in a longitudinal integrated clerkship setting. Journal Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. 2017;46(1):51. doi: 10.1186/s40463-017-0215-1.

Best C, Dhaliwal S, Tam S, Low H, Hughes B, Fung K, MacNeil SD. Slowly expanding intrathyroidal hematoma causing airway obstruction: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore), 2016; 95(35):e3209. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000003209. PMID: 27583841.

Best CA, Best AA, Best TJ, & Hamilton DA. Buffered lidocaine and bupivacaine mixture – the ideal local anesthetic solution? Canadian Journal of Plastic Surgery, Plast Surg 2015;23(2):87-90. PMID:26090348.

Best CA and Best TJ. Mycobacterium smegmatis infection of the hand. Hand (N Y). 2009 Jun;4(2):165-6. doi: 10.1007/s11552-008- 9147-6.