Cosmetic vs. Plastic Surgeon: What’s the Difference?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), 14.6 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed in 2012. Many people equate cosmetic surgery with plastic surgery, and with millions of cosmetic surgery procedures being performed each year, people often question the difference between a cosmetic surgeon and a plastic surgeon.

Cosmetic Surgeon

Cosmetic surgery is a specialty of medicine that focuses on enhancing a person’s physical appearance through medical and/or surgical techniques. Cosmetic procedures can be performed on all areas of the body, face, and neck.

Any licensed physician may perform cosmetic surgery procedures. Currently, there are no residency programs in the United States devoted exclusively to cosmetic surgery. Any physician who seeks to perform cosmetic surgery may do so, and his/her training and experience is primarily obtained after completing general residency training. A cosmetic surgeon may be a general surgeon, ENT (ears, nose, and throat) specialist, internist, cardiologist, gynecologist, pediatrician, radiologist, ophthalmologist, dermatologist, general practitioner, anesthesiologist, psychiatrist, etc.

In addition, the term “cosmetic surgery” is not a recognized discipline by the American Board of Medical Specialties, which means that there is no such thing as being board certified in cosmetic surgery. Therefore, if a cosmetic surgeon claims to be “board certified,” you should question in what specialty the surgeon is certified.

Plastic Surgeon

Plastic surgery is a specialty of medicine concerned with correcting or restoring form and/or function. This discipline focuses on both reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries.

Reconstructive Plastic Surgery

Reconstructive plastic surgery is intended to correct dysfunctional areas of the body and, as the name implies, is reconstructive in nature. It focuses on facial and body defects caused by birth disorders, trauma, burns, or disease. Types of reconstructive plastic surgery include cranio-facial surgery, e.g., cleft lip or palate; maxilla-facial trauma; burn surgery; and hand/microsurgery.

Cosmetic Surgery (Aesthetic Plastic Surgery)

Many plastic surgeons specialize in cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic plastic surgery encompasses cosmetic surgical procedures that are aesthetic in nature, and it focuses on enhancing a person’s face, neck, and body through surgical techniques. Types of cosmetic plastic surgery include breast augmentation, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), liposuction, rhinoplasty, face lift, etc.

For a physician to become a plastic surgeon, he/she must complete an approved and extensive residency training program in plastic and reconstructive surgery. A plastic surgeon may become certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), which means that he/she has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon, including a minimum of two years devoted entirely to plastic surgery. Certification by the ABPS is entirely voluntary, and the physician must pass comprehensive written and oral examinations to become board certified in plastic surgery.

Before undergoing any cosmetic or plastic surgery procedure, it is best to choose a board certified plastic surgeon with years of experience performing the type of surgery you wish to undergo. It is also recommended that you review your surgeon’s before and after photos of prior patients who have undergone this same procedure to see the type of results you may expect to receive.

If you are interested in any cosmetic or plastic surgery procedure, please call The Aesthetic Institute to schedule a consultation with our board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Robert M. Wald. Dr. Wald is certified by both The American Board of Plastic Surgery and The American Board of Otolaryngology and has years of experience performing many aesthetic plastic surgery procedures. To schedule your consultation with Dr. Wald, please call 888-401-2806 or fill out our online contact form.