The procedures, techniques and principles of cosmetic surgery are completely focused on improving the patient's appearance. Improving aesthetic appeal, symmetry and proportion are the key objectives. Cosmetic surgery can be performed on all areas of the head, neck and body. Because cosmetic procedures treat areas that work properly, cosmetic surgery is designated as elective. Elective cosmetic procedures are performed by doctors from a variety of medical fields, including plastic surgeons.
Plastic surgery is a broad field that encompasses both cosmetic (aesthetic) procedures and reconstructive procedures. Reconstructive surgery focuses on repairing or reconstructing problems caused by congenital deformities, the removal of tumors such as cancer, trauma, or other reasons. Some other lesser-known plastic surgery procedures include carpal tunnel surgery, microsurgery, rhinoplasty, and surgery of the peripheral nerves. A big problem for many people is that a cosmetic surgeon and a plastic surgeon can be confused.
However, while cosmetic surgery is a type of plastic surgery, cosmetic surgeons can only perform cosmetic procedures, explains Dr. Alan Matarasso, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Cosmetic surgery aims to improve the appearance and the way people feel about themselves. It can be performed on almost any part of the face or body.
Many people who choose this type of surgery hope it will boost their self-esteem. Another name for the field of aesthetic medicine is aesthetic medicine. If you've always thought that cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery were the same thing, you're not alone. Most people think of cosmetic or cosmetic surgery when they hear the term plastic surgery, and these are procedures that are performed to improve a person's appearance and help their self-esteem. Each type of surgeon receives different training, and while there are many trained and well-trained cosmetic and plastic surgeons, learning the difference can help you understand each surgeon's credentials and experiences.
Residency training in plastic surgery involves a series of mandatory plastic and reconstructive surgeries, including aesthetic procedures and principles. On the other hand, a cosmetic surgeon could determine which technologies are best for a person and offer them all their options. The techniques used by plastic surgeons to restore the body's appearance and function are often similar to those used by cosmetic surgeons to improve the body's appearance. It's just a coincidence that the patient can derive an aesthetic benefit from the procedure, as well as a functional benefit.
Eyelid surgery and breast reduction surgery are two cosmetic procedures that insurance can cover if the patient meets certain requirements, but insurance only covers these procedures for functional reasons, not because of a change in appearance. Cosmetic surgery board certification requires surgical training followed by extensive and documented experience in cosmetic surgery. Therefore, the title “board-certified plastic surgeon” indicates a certain level of training and experience with respect to plastic surgery, but does not indicate the same with respect to cosmetic surgery, since the residency training required to obtain board certification in plastic surgery may not include training with respect to many common cosmetic procedures. While both cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery seek to improve the patient's body, the general philosophies that guide training, research, and goals for patients are different.
Plastic surgery is a broad category of procedures that includes both cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery. While this training addresses aesthetic procedures, it's not the only approach; aesthetic training is just one of the 12 categories of procedures included in the training requirements for obtaining certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), including burn reconstruction, hand surgery, and craniomaxillofacial trauma surgery. If the procedure you are looking for is aesthetic in nature, choosing a cosmetic surgeon means that your surgeon is focused on safely achieving a solid aesthetic result. Patients who hire doctors to perform cosmetic procedures in their office or at an outpatient surgery center should ensure that the doctor is authorized to perform the same procedures at a local hospital, Jacobs explained.
