Most of the time, poor plastic surgery results or “plastic surgery failures” are due in part to an unqualified professional who was chosen to perform an operation for which he was not properly trained. Simply put, plastic surgeons are better trained and more qualified than cosmetic surgeons. Plastic surgery is defined as a surgical specialty dedicated to the reconstruction of facial and body defects due to congenital disorders, injuries, burns and diseases. Plastic surgery aims to correct dysfunctional areas of the body and, by definition, is reconstructive in nature.
While many plastic surgeons choose to complete additional training and also perform cosmetic surgery, the foundation of their surgical training remains reconstructive plastic surgery. In fact, in 1999, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons changed its name to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to more firmly convey the message that “plastic and reconstructive surgeons are the same.” Every surgeon certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery has completed a 1-year fellowship certified by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery exclusively in cosmetic surgery. During this fellowship, surgeons receive extensive training in all facial, breast, and body cosmetic surgery procedures, in addition to non-surgical cosmetic treatments, and perform a minimum of 300 individual cosmetic surgery procedures. This training grant is in addition to completing a 3- to 5-year residency program in a related discipline.
You're not alone if you think that plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons are the same thing, but they definitely aren't. A plastic surgeon aims to reconstruct anatomy, improve function, and address certain medical problems. These two functions are often grouped together as if they were one and the same, but there are actually some important differences between these two types of surgeons. For those who are thinking about a career in surgery or plastic surgery, do it only because you truly love it and because you truly believe it is your calling in life.
Because any licensed doctor can legally perform cosmetic surgery, regardless of how you received training in cosmetic surgery, it's extremely important that you do your research when choosing a cosmetic surgeon. A plastic surgeon can perform all of the procedures performed by a cosmetic surgeon, including non-invasive procedures, minimally invasive treatments, and surgical options. Risks increase when people choose to look for people who are not board certified to perform their elective procedures, because every time they choose to go to someone who lacks experience, training and knowledge, they are basically taking their lives into their own hands, said Dr. Aviva Preminger, a board-certified plastic surgeon. Between Botox parties, the appearance of beauty bars across the country, and social media influencers speaking more openly about their plastic surgery, there can be some confusion about what constitutes plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery.
Plastic surgery refers to a surgical specialty dedicated to reconstructing anatomy for medical or aesthetic purposes. You're not alone if you're confused about the difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery. There are a lot of questions and misconceptions about both, and many patients mistakenly believe that plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons are the same when they aren't. Because cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery have different practice objectives based on a set of specific procedures, it only follows that the training and certification process of a board-certified plastic surgeon will be very different from that of a board-certified plastic surgeon.
ASPS member surgeons can only perform surgery at an accredited, state-licensed or Medicare-certified surgical center. Because cosmetic procedures treat areas that work properly, cosmetic surgery is designated as elective. For example, cosmetic surgeons do not perform rhinoplasties to resolve breathing difficulties, but to improve the appearance of the nose.
