Plastic Surgeon Vs. Cosmetic Surgeon
When it comes to surgery, the field is very technical. This is the reason why most people think that both plastic and cosmetic surgery are the same ways of treatment. Yes, it is true that both the types of surgery are related to enhancement of an individual’s physical appearance.
However, a board-certified plastic surgeon has a very different area of attention and training as compared to a board-certified cosmetic surgeon.
Plastic Surgery
The term “plastic surgery” is generally taken to be a field where it is about liposuction and nose jobs. However, plastic surgery is a medicinal branch that is aimed at restoring the appeal of damaged body parts and also their functions.
There are a number of surgery techniques like skin grafts, flap surgery and micro-vascular surgery that are aimed to treat patients in the need of plastic surgery. A trained and experienced plastic surgeon can transfer healthy and live tissue, including skin, muscles, fat and even blood vessels from one body part to areas that have been damaged by birth, burns, tumors and other medical situations.
Some common examples of plastic surgery include-
- Cleft lip and palate correction
- Breast reconstruction and reduction
- Removal of skin cancer
- Hand surgery
- Surgeries like rhinoplasty, tummy tuck and skin resurfacing of head and neck, arms and legs.
Cosmetic Surgery
The field of cosmetic surgery involves plastic surgery and a number of different techniques- surgical and non-surgical to enhance the appeal. Just like the plastic surgeons, cosmetic surgeons also perform surgery on head and neck and arms and legs among other body parts.
A few instances of cosmetic surgery are-
- Facelift surgery
- Surgeries that enhance shape and size of nose, ears, chin and other features of the face
- Breast augmentation and breast enhancement
- Spider vein removal
Differences in Training and Certifications
When it comes to training and getting certified by the board, both plastic and cosmetic surgeons have very different education and training procedures.
For a plastic surgeon to be board-certified, he should have-
- Four year experience at a medical school.
- Completed five to six years in medical residency and training in general and plastic surgery as well as surgery for cosmetic reasons.
- Passed the board certification exam from American Board of Plastic Surgery.
In the case of a cosmetic surgeon to be certified by the board, he should-
- Be done with four years in a medical school.
- Complete between four to six years as a medical resident in one of the specialized fields- general surgery, obstetrics, plastic surgery, dermatology or ophthalmology.
- Get a cosmetic surgery fellowship of one to two years in advanced research and training.
Things To Look For in a Plastic or Cosmetic Surgeon
There are a considerable number of plastic surgeons who also offer cosmetic surgery as a part of their facilities. In such a scenario, you will come across a number of other terms like cosmetic plastic surgeon, facial cosmetic surgeon and some more terms like these based on the expertise.
When it comes to some common factors that you should look for in a plastic or cosmetic surgeon-
- Looking out for their board certification in plastic or cosmetic surgery.
- They should have relevant experience in the performance of surgery that you require. They need to have a regular exposure in performing surgeries that bring favourable results as well.
- Any genuine plastic or cosmetic surgeon should be able to ensure a high level of care for the patients in the hospital or center where the surgery is performed.
Visit Our Plastic Surgeon Directory To Get The Details of The Best Plastic Surgeons In U.S.A. And Proceed with a Safe And Natural Looking Surgery.
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