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. Plastic surgery is much more than reconstructive surgery, and some plastic surgeons perform head-to-toe reconstructions, whether on the face, hands, or even feet.
A common decision that patients face when choosing a doctor to perform their procedure is the choice between a cosmetic surgeon and a plastic surgeon.
Currently, 92% of board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States are members of the ASPS, which represents 11,000 plastic surgeons worldwide. Risks increase when people choose to turn to 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 charge of their own life, said Dr. Aviva Preminger, a board-certified plastic surgeon.That said, the American Board of Medical Specialists only recognizes board certification of plastic surgeons. You're not alone if you're confused about the difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery. Plastic surgeons must continue their education by taking continuous courses, even after entering the field. Cosmetic surgery procedures (sometimes referred to as cosmetic surgery) are non-essential procedures that are done to change a person's appearance.
All ASPS members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, have completed an accredited plastic surgery training program, practice in accredited centers, and follow strict safety and ethical standards. Because plastic surgeons focus on reconstructive surgery to resolve anatomical problems or certain medical problems, they must complete a surgical residency before of entering the field. Simply put, cosmetic procedures are performed to improve a person's overall appearance by remodeling and adjusting an anatomy that already exists as a way to make something more visually appealing. The term “plastic” in plastic surgery is derived from the Greek word “plastikos”, which means to mold or shape.
The training can range from a one-year cosmetic surgery grant to a handful of short weekend courses on topics ranging from how to perform liposuction, use injectables or place breast implants. To find the most qualified doctor for a specific cosmetic procedure, you must compare the training, experience and proven competence of general physicians (residency and post-residency) with respect to to that specific cosmetic procedure. 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.
