They can care for patients who have conditions such as congenital disorders, injuries, illnesses, or burns. Plastic surgeons focus on reconstructive procedures.
Cosmetic surgeons
may not have a board certification to call themselves that. Any doctor, from a dermatologist to an oral surgeon, can call himself a cosmetic surgeon, Rohrich said to Healthline.Both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery are included in this general term, and cosmetic surgery is used for aesthetic purposes and reconstructive surgery is used to improve quality or function. Plastic and cosmetic surgery can include surgical, minimally invasive, or even non-surgical procedures. Cosmetic surgeons, referring to themselves as board-certified individuals, can be misleading if you don't know what questions to ask. Despite being informed and prepared, you may be surprised at the bruises and swelling that appear after cosmetic surgery. It's always important to confirm that a plastic surgeon has been certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to certify doctors in the specialty of Plastic Surgery.
Only ABPS diplomats can be called plastic surgeons. In a survey of 5,135 people, 87 percent believed that surgeons should have special credentials and training to perform cosmetic procedures or to advertise themselves as cosmetic, aesthetic or plastic surgeons. Many plastic surgeons choose to become cosmetic surgeons and perform procedures to change the patient's appearance or aesthetics. Getting a breast lift (augmentation) is a cosmetic procedure that can be performed by a plastic or cosmetic surgeon.
Board-certified plastic surgeons have completed at least six to eight years of specific training in an accredited plastic surgery training program in the United States that is regulated by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Training can range from a one-year fellowship in cosmetic surgery to several short weekend courses on topics ranging from liposuction, the use of injectables or the placement of breast implants. Cosmetic surgeons who claim to be board-certified may have received their certificate from the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, which is not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. A bigger problem than knowing the difference between surgeons is that many people turn to professionals who are not cosmetic surgeons to undergo cosmetic procedures.
There are a lot of questions and misconceptions about the two, and many patients mistakenly believe that plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons are the same when they aren't. Rebuilding a breast after a mastectomy is a reconstructive procedure that should only be performed by a plastic surgeon. On the other hand, a cosmetic surgeon could determine which technologies are best for a person and offer them all their options. Matarasso, which only performs aesthetic procedures, treats daily patients who have had a procedure but who are not the ideal candidates for it.
