Cosmetic plastic surgery is performed to improve a person's appearance. Reconstructive plastic surgery, on the other hand, helps improve both the appearance and functions of the face and body. It can treat inherited deformities, trauma, or post-surgery revisions, including mastectomy or lumpectomy. What is cosmetic surgery? Also known as cosmetic surgery, cosmetic surgery is what many people think of when they hear the term plastic surgery. This field of medicine encompasses all procedures performed to enhance or improve aesthetic appeal, symmetry, and proportion.
This includes procedures such as breast augmentation, tummy tuck, liposuction, facelift, rhinoplasty, and eyelid lift, just to name a few.
A big problem for many people is that a cosmetic surgeon and a plastic surgeon can be confused.
But while cosmetic surgery is a type of plastic surgery, cosmetic surgeons can only perform cosmetic procedures, he explains. Dr. Alan Matarasso, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).The terms plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery are often used interchangeably. Although both disciplines of medical science are aimed at improving a person's body, they are different from each other in many ways. Even cosmetic and plastic surgeons may have different qualifications and experience. The differences between cosmetic and plastic surgery are as follows. Reconstructive plastic surgery may be covered by insurance, while cosmetic plastic surgery is elective and usually not covered.
While some plastic surgeons may apply for scholarships after residency to specialize in cosmetic surgery, no additional training is required to become board certified. Getting a breast lift (augmentation) is a cosmetic procedure that can be performed by a plastic surgeon or aesthetic. Rebuilding a breast after a mastectomy is a reconstructive procedure that should only be performed by a plastic surgeon. According to the ABPS, board-certified plastic surgeons can only operate in properly certified centers and can only perform in-office procedures for those who also have hospital privileges.
A bigger problem than knowing the difference between surgeons is that many people turn to professionals who are not cosmetic surgeons to undergo cosmetic procedures. Trained plastic surgeons can also perform complex hand surgeries, peripheral nerve surgeries, craniofacial surgeries, and microsurgeries. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the other major society that certifies plastic surgeons. Board-certified plastic surgeons have completed at least six to eight years of specific training in an accredited plastic surgery training program in the United States, regulated by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
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. Things can get even more confusing when you discover that many plastic surgeons offer cosmetic procedures in their offices and that almost any medical professional could refer to themselves as a cosmetic surgeon. In addition to these, plastic surgeons can perform most cosmetic procedures, such as breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck, breast changes for moms, and facelifts. After the residency, surgeons provide evidence of the clinical experience required to obtain certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).
It's important to note that any qualified medical professional (including plastic surgeons and dermatologists) who performs these procedures can, with good reason, refer to themselves as a cosmetic surgeon. In a survey of 5,135 people, 87 percent believed that surgeons should have special credentials and training to perform cosmetic procedures or to promote themselves as cosmetic, aesthetic or plastic surgeons.
