Training in plastic surgery involves a wide range of procedures to restore normal appearance and function of the body, where training in cosmetic surgery focuses exclusively on aesthetic procedures. However, many plastic surgeons offer cosmetic procedures in their practice. Reconstructive plastic surgery may be covered by insurance, while cosmetic plastic surgery is elective and usually not covered. Plastic surgery is a broad field that covers both cosmetic (aesthetic) and reconstructive procedures.
Reconstructive surgery focuses on repairing or reconstructing problems caused by congenital deformities, removal of tumors such as cancer, trauma, or other reasons. Some other lesser-known plastic surgery procedures include carpal tunnel surgery, microsurgery, rhinoplasty, and peripheral nerve surgery. The terms plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery are often used interchangeably. Although both disciplines of medical science are aimed at improving a person's body, they are different from each other in many respects.
Even cosmetic and plastic surgeons may have different qualifications and experience. The differences between cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery are as follows. The terms “cosmetic surgery” and “plastic surgery” are often used interchangeably. Although both disciplines aim to improve a person's body, the training, qualifications and results are very different.
Any doctor, from a dermatologist to an oral surgeon, can call himself a cosmetic surgeon, Rohrich told Healthline. Although both plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery procedures are performed to improve the patient's body, the general philosophies that guide their goals, training, and research for patients' final outcomes are different. Medical professionals are not required to be board-certified plastic surgeons to perform complex cosmetic surgeries. The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery is the only certifying board exam dedicated to examining a surgeon's ability in cosmetic surgery of the face and body.
Cosmetic surgeons claiming to be board-certified can be misleading, so it's vital that you ask for proof of qualifications and certifications before performing any cosmetic or surgical procedure. Therefore, the title “board-certified plastic surgeon” indicates a certain level of training and experience with respect to plastic surgery, but does not indicate the same with respect to cosmetic surgery, since the residency training required to obtain certification in plastic surgery may not include training with regard to many common cosmetic procedures. The number of people undergoing cosmetic procedures has steadily increased over the past five years and there are several reasons why. Most of the time, poor plastic surgery results or “plastic surgery failures” are partly due to an unqualified professional who was chosen to perform an operation for which they were not adequately trained.
However, although health groups and government health departments are pushing to change the rules, it is currently not illegal for anyone in Australia with a basic medical degree to perform a cosmetic procedure. Because cosmetic surgery deals with cosmetic improvement in the absence of medical indications, it is generally not covered by Medicare or private health insurance. A bigger problem than knowing the difference between surgeons is that many people seek cosmetic procedures from professionals who are not cosmetic surgeons. Ensured that plastic surgeons are trained in cosmetic surgery, general surgery and reconstructive surgery.
This includes a minimum of 12 years of additional surgical training in cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery procedures. It is an independent subspecialty board that examines and certifies physicians in general, facial and dermatological cosmetic surgery. Elective cosmetic procedures are performed by physicians from a variety of medical fields, including plastic surgeons. .
