Whats the Difference between Cosmetic Surgery and Plastic Surgery
If you’ve always thought cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery were one in the same you’re not alone. A significant number of plastic surgeons choose to focus their practice on cosmetic surgery, and as such, the terms are often used interchangeably. But this is not technically correct. Cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery are closely related specialties, but they are not the same.
They Have Different Goals
While both cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery deal with improving a patient’s body, the overarching philosophies guiding the training, research, and goals for patient outcomes are different.
Cosmetic Surgery: Focused on Enhancing Apperance
The procedures, techniques and principles of cosmetic surgery are entirely focused on enhancing a patient’s appearance. Improving aesthetic appeal, symmetry and proportion are the key goals. Cosmetic surgery can be performed on all areas of the head, neck and body. Because the treated areas function properly, cosmetic surgery is effective. Cosmetic surgery is practiced by doctors from a variety of medical fields, including plastic surgeons.
Plastic Surgery: Focused on Repairing Defects to Reconstruct a Normal Function and Appearance
Plastic surgery is defined as a surgically specialty dedicated to reconstruction of facial and body defects due to birth disorders, trauma, burns, and disease. Plastic surgery is intended to correct dysfunctional areas of the body and is reconstructive in nature. While many plastic surgeons choose to complete additional training and perform cosmetic surgery as well, the basis of their surgical training remains reconstructive plastic surgery. In fact, in 1999, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons changes its name to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to more strongly communicate the message that “plastic or reconstructive surgeons are one in the same.”
Cosmetic Surgery training is Obtained Separately from Plastic Surgery Training
As cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery each have distinct practice goals built around a specific procedure set, it only follows that the training and certification process for a board certified cosmetic surgeon will look very different from that of a board certified plastic surgeon.
Physicians who become board certified in plastic surgery must complete a general surgery residency plus another 2 years in plastic surgery. Residency programs in plastic surgery may include cosmetic surgery as a portion of a surgeon’s training, but typically do not include training on every cosmetic procedure.
Therefore the title “board certified plastic surgeon” indicates a certain level training and experience with respect to plastic surgery, but it does not indicate the same thing with respect to cosmetic surgery, as the residency training required to become board certified in plastic surgery may not include training with respect to many common cosmetic procedures.
There are currently no residency programs in the United States devoted exclusively to cosmetic surgery. Because of this, cosmetic surgeons primarily obtain training and experience after completing their residency training. This is done by completing a post-residency fellowship.
