While cosmetic and plastic surgery involve improving the body, the two specialties aren’t the same. These procedures vary in terms of goals, training, procedures, and recovery times. Understanding these distinctions will help you determine the ideal procedure for your needs and goals. Here are some of the key differences between a cosmetic and plastic surgeon:
Goals
Cosmetic surgeons aim to enhance an individual’s appearance through symmetry improvement, augmentation, or adjusting their body or face proportions. These are elective procedures, meaning patients undergo surgery for aesthetics and not to improve a body part’s functionality. Cosmetic surgeons gain basic training in the residency program and mainly understand the basics of cosmetic procedures through hands-on experience post-residency. They’re trained on various aesthetic principles such as balance and proportion, symmetry, harmony and cohesiveness, and emphasis on natural beauty.
A plastic surgeon conducts reconstructive surgeries such as burn repair to restore the form and function of the body. During the procedures, they address damages or disfigurements caused by illnesses, accidents, burns, or birth defects. While Diepenbrock Facial Cosmetic Surgery mainly corrects dysfunctional body areas, plastic surgeons also perform cosmetic surgeries to enhance beauty.
Certification
Reputable plastic surgeons need to be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), which is the only board recognized to certify doctors who choose to specialize in plastic surgery. Specialists need at least six years of residential training in reconstructive and plastic surgeries. To venture into cosmetic surgery, they need to undergo a surgical residency and a fellowship program. Surgeons specializing in face reconstruction need to have undergone ENT training and can perform aesthetic procedures. An oculoplastic surgeon can also perform aesthetic surgery after their ophthalmology residency program.
Cosmetic surgeons are certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. They spend a year exclusively training in aesthetic surgery and perform at least 150 individual procedures on the body, face, and breasts. Specialists also receive additional training on non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as fillers and Botox, skin care, and laser resurfacing. For their assessment, they need to pass a 2-day written and oral examination on all aspects of cosmetic procedures.
Board-certified surgeons are committed to improving their craft through additional education and are dedicated to maintaining safety and performance standards in their practice.
Procedures
A distinguishing factor between plastic and cosmetic surgeons is the types of procedures they perform. Cosmetic surgeons conduct aesthetic procedures only, while plastic surgeons can do both cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries. Aesthetic procedures include:
- Breast Enhancement: This includes breast lifts and breast augmentation. Augmentation increases the breast size using implants. Individuals opt for this procedure after a sudden weight loss or after pregnancy. To improve breast appearance and shape, a surgeon may recommend a breast lift procedure, which involves the removal of excess skin around the breast tissue.
- Facial Procedures: Depending on the goals of a client, cosmetic surgeons can conduct a facelift, nose reshaping, forehead lift, or eyelid surgery.
- Body Enhancement: Body enhancement procedures entail body lifts, liposuction, arm lift, and abdominoplasty.
Reconstructive surgery repairs body parts affected by congenital disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. Some of the reconstructive procedures that plastic surgeons conduct include:
- Breast Reconstruction: This procedure restores the appearance and shape of one or both breasts after a mastectomy.
- Breast Reduction: A breast reduction is suitable for individuals who experience discomfort or back pains due to the size of their mammary glands.
- Cleft Lip and Palate Repair: This repair aims to close the opening between the mouth and nose to create a palate that facilitates proper speech. It is done on babies aged between 6 to 12 months.
Plastic surgeons also conduct scar revision procedures to improve the appearance of scars, reduce their itchiness, or improve the functionality of body parts that the scar could have restricted. Such scars may include keloid scars, hypertrophic scars, and contractures.
Choose a Reputable Plastic Surgeon for Your Surgery
Finding the right plastic surgeon for your desired procedure impacts your desired outcome and safety. Do thorough research on your potential surgeon to find out whether they specialize in your specific procedure. Make sure they’re qualified and board-certified by verifying their credentials with the state medical board. Select a reliable surgeon who can conduct a safe and successful procedure, while achieving your goals and enhancing satisfaction.