Saturday, September 11, 2010

What is the difference between a Plastic Surgeon and a Cosmetic Surgeon?

The difference is everything, the difference is nothing.

It depends on whose perspective it's coming from. By definition, all plastic surgeons are trained and capable of performing "cosmetic surgery," but not all Cosmetic Surgeons are Plastic Surgeons. What does this mean? It means that the true education, training, and ability of a Plastic Surgeon encompasses ALL that is cosmetic surgery, but those who call themsevles "cosmetic surgeons or cosmetic doctors" are not all Plastic Surgeons. The reason is that there are many different groups of doctors and even nondoctors, who would like to have the mystique and therefore the "confusion" of cosmetic surgery or plastic surgery next to their names without the true training of a plastic surgeon. In other words, there is the "real deal" and then the "wannabes."

This distinction is extremely important if you consider the importance of education, training, and ability of the person who will be making permanent changes to your face, hands, breast, body, etc with such instruments as a scalpel, electrocautery, or a suction cannula. Much of what is done in surgery is irreversible and the best chance for success is always the first chance. Why would you risk your face to someone who might have taken a weekend course to call themsevles a "cosmetic doctor"?

You might ask, "So what is the big deal? So what if a family practice doctor or a chiropractor says s/he is a 'cosmetic doctor/surgeon'?" The problem is that those who don't know the difference will likely think that this "cosmetic doctor" is a plastic surgeon. Next thing you know, you've just had your face or body irreversibly botched up by this person. It's about safety and real credentials. If you had trained to be an elite in the special forces of the military, a Navy SEAL or an Army Green Beret, you would not take kindly to someone military or nonmilitary stating they were something "like a SEAL or Green Beret." You either are the real thing, or are not. You either took the difficult, real path to the destination, or you did not.

There is only one plastic surgery board that is sanctioned by the American Board of Medical Specialities (AMBS), the gold standard of medical specialties, and it the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). For those of you who are embarking on the path to become a plastic surgeon, you need to know this difference and understand what it takes to become a part of an elite specialty where only 200 true plastic surgeons are produced per year at major academic medical centers. You can choose to join other boards with "plastic or cosmetic" in their names, but they are not true speciality boards. Some of these boards do carry some weight, but there is still only one that is part of the ABMS.

So back to the question. It depends on who you are. If you are a real plastic surgeon, the difference is everything; if you are not, you'd like to say the difference is nothing.

54 comments:

Unknown said...

Really good explained the difference between both by you. I did not know about that. Before this I mean that both of the surgery are equal.
eye lift

Lipo said...

A plastic surgeon re-constructive surgery as having a deformed body part or have been in a serious accident. a plastic surgeon do boob jobs and nose jobs and how to make a person feel better abut their appearance.
Lipo

Cosmetic said...

Good work done!
Cosmetic surgeon

Anonymous said...

People has to get rid of many misunderstanding like this. Its really an eye opener.

Plastic Surgeon Houston

Bettie said...

It is always important (a matter of life and death, even) to make a distinction between such professional terminologies, as the knowledge of one professional isn't exactly that of the other, especially if their titles are closely related. To this, extra care must be taken by would-be patients regarding their concerns.

Bettie Comerford

Catherine Boston said...

So you can say plastic & cosmetic surgery get many difference and also nothing. Cosmetic surgery is dependable on plastic surgery but plastic surgery in not dependable. Both surgery get help of change appearance.

_______________
hand rejuvenation

Anonymous said...

The post is telling the difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery. Get details from here
Plastic Surgery Abroad

Cutis Medical said...

You can know the difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery. Good post

Unknown said...

This is a highly informative article. A lot of people don’t mind bother to know the exact difference between a cosmetic surgeon and a plastic surgeon because they think that they’re the same doctors. However, these medical professionals have specializations that patients should consider so they can get the surgeon that has the most experience and skills in the procedure that they want to have. By the way, the difference is everything to me. :)

-- Shavonda Duarte

Anonymous said...

Wow, i agreed with your review. I only know that the Plastic Surgeryis becoming more and more popular as a way to change features about your face or body that you are unhappy with. Having a good surgery is necessary to choose the plastic surgeon.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Impressive explanation! Thanks because it's now clear to me between them. Thanks for the information.

www.drleeorthopedics.com

Unknown said...

Hi there! glad to drop by your page and found these very interesting and informative stuff. Thanks for sharing, keep it up!
plastic surgeon cape cod

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Hi, I agree with your nice Tips and advance tricks for Aesthetic surgery. Now a day people find the peace of mind and accidental recovery also through Surgery……..Please, contact Dr GvG for Cosmetic Surgery in Bangalore.

Dr. Enfry Salas said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dr. Enfry Salas said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dr. Enfry Salas said...


I say its about experience, for example, the liposuction was invented by an italian gynecologist Dr. George Fisher, and the solution that its used to do tumescent cosmetic surgeries was invented by a dermatologist Dr. Klein from Newport, Cali. Some plastic surgeons are awesome in cosmetic surgeries, and some from other surgical specialities are awesome in cosmetic surgeries as well. If we both have the same great results and experience, then we are both good cosmetic surgeons.

Unknown said...

Hi Charles, I Like your content. To become a plastic surgeon in clinical practice, a doctor should be fully licensed to practice medicine and must be subject to at least five or six years of a residency training program in formal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery where as a cosmetic or aesthetic surgeons is a doctor who perform cosmetic surgery procedures, regardless of the training they have received. Therefore, the use of the titles "cosmetic surgeon" or "Cosmetic Surgeon" can mean many different things.
Thanks,
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Hi Charles,
You have posted a very useful post. Many times people are considering that both plastic and cosmetic surgeons are same. This post will must help them.

Somehow I came to know blepharoplasty is an effective procedure to increase face appearance.

Unknown said...

A
plastic surgeon re-constructive surgery as having a deformed body part or have been in a serious accident.

Unknown said...

Thanks for this information. I'm thinking about going back to school and becoming a plastic surgeon. I want to learn more about the techniques before I do it.
Gary Puntman | http://www.liplasticsurgery.com

Unknown said...

Thanks for the distinction--that makes more sense. The comments clear up the difference between cosmetic and plastic surgery as well. Keep posting!

Lily | http://KYPlasticSurgery.com

Anonymous said...

Provided blogs and articles looking very supportive for us.
plastic surgery cost

Alex moner said...

Next thing you know, you've just had your face or body irreversibly botched up by this person. Towson plastic surgeon

Unknown said...

My roommate is a senior in college. She plans on going to medical school and becoming a plastic surgeon. I think that would be such a cool job for her. I have actually never met a plastic surgeon before. http://www.drsanjaylalla.com

Marian said...

Thanks for sharing this. Some people define Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery same. And they seems the same, restoring and enhancing the part of the body. There are so confused with this. Anyway, again thanks for sharing this, you really differentiate the two.

Unknown said...

Physical appearance is just for name sake. But the fact is every human think about it very much; beauty has a great importance in their life. I was also in that stage 3 years back; I did a surgery for my left ear it was little big and due to that my appearance was not so good. I got some information from Plastic Surgery Houston and it helps to go ahead with it.

Unknown said...

Physical appearance is just for name sake. But the fact is every human think about it very much; beauty has a great importance in their life. I was also in that stage 3 years back; I did a surgery for my left ear it was little big and due to that my appearance was not so good. I got some information from Plastic Surgery Houston and it helps to go ahead with it.

Unknown said...

Thank you for clarifying the difference and similarities between the two. I had always thought they they were two title that meant the same thing. Plastic surgeons have more education and training. http://www.westlinnplasticsurgery.com

Unknown said...

plastic surgery is performed to correct functional impairments caused by burns; traumatic injuries, such as facial bone fractures and breaks; congenital abnormalities, such as cleft palates or cleft lips; developmental abnormalities; infection and disease; and cancer or tumors.

Unknown said...

I never realized how easily those two types of surgeons were confused. I'm glad you specified the difference! My step-mom recently decided to get plastic surgery. I support her decision, even though I don't really think she needs it. Hopefully she finds a good PLASTIC surgeon. Thanks for the post! http://www.entverobeach.com/facial-plastic-surgery/

Unknown said...

I didn't realize that there was a difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon. I've always thought that they were two terms to describe the same thing. It's good to know what those differences are so that I won't look ignorant in front of my friends who have just had facelifts.
http://www.hechtaestheticcenter.com

Anonymous said...

Fascinating information I haven’t been experienced such information in quite a long time. Dr. Aaron Kosins Newport Beach Plastic and Rhinoplasty Surgeon

Anonymous said...

This is very essential blog; it helped me a lot whatever you have provided. http://finsurgeons.net

Anonymous said...

The blog is unique that’s providing the nice material. Please post more interesting articles here. Medical Negligence Solicitors

Unknown said...

I love the analogy of the National Guard being "something like the Green Beret." It is likely that a cosmetic surgeon will have similar training, but they are not a specialized plastic surgeon. This kind of work takes very special care. It is important that you have treatments from a skilled professional; this will ensure the job is done well.
http://www.cosmetiqueplasticsurgery.com

Anonymous said...

It’s amazing to visit again n again coming to your blogs the superb effort is here.http://www.perfectnose.co.uk/

Unknown said...

You've got finished a stunning job with you website. The Med Care Group

Unknown said...

I never ever saw such blogs and the knowledge you have given that is accurately to the point and in simple wording, I like it! Rush Nutra

Unknown said...

Your blog is very cool. I am very lucky to be able to come to your weblog and I will bookmark this web page in order that I could come back another time.Keep up the good work. Cancer Surgeon in Dombivli || Urology Center in dombivli || Orthopedic Surgeon in Dombivli

Unknown said...


After reading up this blog i have shown some great interests in these type of blogs and would say that it needs to be bookmarked now. Hospitals in Dombivli || Physiotherapy in Dombivli || Hospital in Dombivli

Unknown said...

I think that it is really important to know the difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon. It can be pretty easy to think that they are the same thing. It is just like saying a doctor and a nurse. They both have similar jobs, but they are not the same job. http://www.alangoldmd.com

Unknown said...

Thank you so much guys for giving such kind of information. This will assist me a lot. writing a paper

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

There is noticeably much to know on the subject of this. I think you created some excellent points in Features also. When an essay is an issue - get our benefit!

Unknown said...

Affordable Plastic surgery in Tunisia
Med Espoir welcomes patients from all over the world who come to Tunisia for a low cost surgical operation or an aesthetic surgery.
http://www.medespoir.net/

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a great blog this is! Truly lovely quality stuff, the lesson given in this is pretty informative. rhinoplasty nyc

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing this blog.In my opinion Cosmetic surgery done for enhancing a body part that has a normal shape and normal function. Whereas Plastic surgery is known as reconstructive surgery, involves correcting an abnormality resulting from a birth defect, health condition or accident. Get best surgery services by cevreplasticsurgery.

Unknown said...

The blog really assists me much and it’s been a week that I’ve been searching on this topic. Thanks anyway for sharing my favorite information. laser hair removal westlake village

Unknown said...

Here at this site really the fastidious material collection so that everybody can enjoy a lot. Moorgate Aesthetics

Unknown said...

"Plastic surgery is a branch of medical that is concerned for improving, modifying, or beautifying the appearance of body parts through a reconstructive medical procedure."!!
plastic surgeon in surat 

Elizabeth J. Neal said...

I am happy to find your distinguished way of writing the post. Now you make it easy for me to understand and implement the concept. Thank you for the post. cosmetic surgery in Hyderabad