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Are you looking for an elective surgery but aren’t sure if you need Plastic or Cosmetic Surgeon? You’ve come to the right place! In this article we will explain the difference between Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, and which one is right for you!
COSMETIC SURGERY
Cosmetic surgery is focused on enhancing a patient’s appearance, according to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgeons. Through elective surgery, surgeons are able too improve a patients aesthetic appeal, symmetry, and proportion. Procedures are performed on all areas of the body, including the head and neck. Cosmetic procedures are done by doctors in a variety of medical fields, including plastic surgeons.
Types of cosmetic surgery procedures include:
PLASTIC SURGERY
According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgeons, plastic surgery is focused on repairing defects and reconstructing normal function and appearance on damaged body parts. Meaning, a plastic surgeons goal is to reconstruct facial and bodily defects from birth defects, trauma, burns, and disease. For example, a plastic surgeon is trained to correct a cleft palate that will improve the patients quality of life. While many plastic surgeons choose to perform cosmetic surgery, the foundation of their surgical training remains in constructive plastic surgery.
Types of plastic surgery procedures include:
- Breast Reconstruction
- Burn Repair Surgery
- Cleft Palate Repair
- Extremity Defect Repair
- Lower Extremity Reconstruction
- Hand Surgery
- Scar Revision Surgery
TRAINING
To become board certified Cosmetic surgeon, you must be trained in every different type of cosmetic surgery.
Along the same lines, to become board certified Plastic surgeon, you must be trained in all cosmetic surgeries and in disorders, hand surgery, reconstructive surgery, trauma surgery, and congenital defect repair.
Plastic surgery training is completed in a post-graduate residency program. Physicians who become plastic surgery board certified are required to complete one of two routes of training.
- The first option is an integrated residency training that combines three years of general surgery and three years of plastic surgery.
- The second option is an independent, five-year residency program in general surgery followed by a three-year plastic surgery residency program.
Cosmetic surgery training only requires a one year fellowship exclusively in cosmetic surgery after completing a three to five-year residency program. Therefore, the title “board certified plastic surgeon” indicates a certain level of training and experience with respect to plastic surgery.
Knowing the difference between these two fields can save you from meeting with the wrong specialist. If you’re looking someone experienced in cosmetic and plastic surgery, look no further than Dr. Amy Bandy! At Dr. Bandy plastic surgery, we provide cosmetic and plastic procedures, making her the all-in-one best plastic surgeon for your next procedure.
For scheduling or more information, contact our Newport Beach office and see how we can help you today!
