Cosmetic vs Plastic Surgery

Cosmetic Surgery, Plastic Surgery—What’s the Difference?

If you’ve always thought that cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery were one and the same, you’re certainly not alone in that belief. A significant number of plastic surgeons choose to focus their practice primarily on cosmetic surgery, and because of this common practice, the terms are often used interchangeably by many. However, it is important to understand that this is not technically correct. In fact, while cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery are closely related specialties within the field of medical aesthetics, they are distinctly different from one another, each with its own specific goals and areas of expertise.

Cosmetic Surgery: Focused on Enhancing Appearance

The various procedures, advanced techniques, and foundational principles of cosmetic surgery are entirely focused on enhancing and improving a patient’s overall appearance. Improving aesthetic appeal, achieving symmetry, and enhancing proportion are the key goals of these transformative procedures. Cosmetic surgery can be performed on all areas of the head, neck, and body, allowing for a wide range of possibilities. Because the treated areas continue to function properly, cosmetic surgery is classified as elective. This specialized form of surgery is practiced by doctors from a variety of medical fields, notably including plastic surgeons, who are trained to deliver these intricate procedures.

The scope of cosmetic surgery procedures includes:

• Breast Enhancement: Augmentation, Lift, Reduction, Revisions

• Facial Contouring: Rhinoplasty, Chin, or Cheek Enhancement

• Facial Rejuvenation: Facelift, Eyelid Lift, Neck Lift, Brow Lift

• Body Contouring: Tummy Tuck, Liposuction, Gynecomastia Treatment, Body Lifts, Thigh Lifts, Arm Lifts

• Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation: Botox®, Filler Treatments

Plastic Surgery: Focused on Repairing Defects to Reconstruct a Normal Function & Appearance

Plastic surgery is defined as a specialized surgical discipline that is dedicated to the reconstruction of facial and bodily defects that arise from various causes including birth disorders, trauma, burns, and disease. The primary goal of plastic surgery is to correct dysfunctional areas of the body, and its procedures are inherently reconstructive in nature. While a significant number of plastic surgeons opt to pursue additional training to also perform cosmetic surgery, it is important to note that the foundation of their surgical education and expertise remains rooted in reconstructive plastic surgery. In fact, back in 1999, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons made a pivotal decision to change its name to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in order to more clearly convey the unified message that “plastic and reconstructive surgeons are indeed one and the same.”

Examples of plastic surgery procedures:

• Breast Reconstruction

• Burn Repair Surgery

• Congenital Defect Repair: Cleft Palate, Extremity Defect Repair

• Lower Extremity Reconstruction

• Hand Surgery

• Scar Revision Surgery

Cosmetic Surgery Training is Obtained Separately from Plastic Surgery Training

Cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery each have distinct practice goals that are built around a specific set of procedures designed to enhance or restore appearance. Given these differences, it only follows that the training and certification process for a board-certified cosmetic surgeon will look markedly different from that of a board-certified plastic surgeon, reflecting their unique skill sets and areas of expertise..

Plastic surgery training is completed through a post-graduate residency program

Physicians who pursue board certification in plastic surgery must first complete a comprehensive general surgery residency program, followed by an additional two years dedicated specifically to the field of plastic surgery. While residency programs in plastic surgery may incorporate cosmetic surgery as part of a surgeon’s overall training, it is important to note that they typically do not cover training for every single cosmetic procedure available. Therefore, the title “board certified plastic surgeon” signifies a certain level of education, training, and expertise in the realm of plastic surgery, but it does not necessarily imply the same level of knowledge or proficiency when it comes to cosmetic surgery specifically. This is because the residency training required to achieve board certification in plastic surgery may not include training related to many of the common cosmetic procedures that potential patients might be interested in. Additionally, this certification does not provide information regarding whether the doctor possesses more or less training in cosmetic surgery compared to a physician who is board certified in a different medical specialty.

Cosmetic surgery training is completed primarily after residency training

There are currently no residency programs in the United States that are devoted exclusively to the specialized field of cosmetic surgery. Because of this lack of dedicated programs, cosmetic surgeons primarily obtain their essential training and experience after completing their initial residency training in a related specialty. This is often accomplished through the completion of a post-residency fellowship, which provides additional education and hands-on experience in cosmetic surgical techniques.

Board certified cosmetic surgeons are residency trained + fellowship trained in cosmetic surgery

The training, experience, and knowledge required to become a board certified cosmetic surgeon reflects specialization above and beyond what it takes to become board certified in a related discipline, such as plastic surgery. Each surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery has completed a 1 year fellowship training exclusively in cosmetic surgery. During this fellowship, surgeons receive thorough training in all cosmetic surgery procedures of the face, breast, and body, plus non-surgical cosmetic treatments, performing a minimum of 300 individual cosmetic surgery procedures. This fellowship training is in addition to completing a 3-5 year residency program in a related discipline.

For more information please visit: https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/