What Is The Difference Between Cosmetic And Plastic Surgery?
Many people have the misconception that cosmetic and plastic surgery are the same thing. However, there are differences between these two categories of surgery. It’s important to understand those differences and the doctors who perform the surgeries when looking for aesthetic surgical services.
What is the Difference Between Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery?
Cosmetic surgery is a field of medicine that focuses on improving a patient’s appearance with medical and surgical techniques. It’s typically involved with invasive and non-invasive procedures on the head, neck, and body. Generally, cosmetic surgery is considered an aesthetic procedure, which makes it elective instead of a necessity.
By contrast, plastic surgery is a broader practice that aims to reconstruct a deformity, defect, birth disorder, burn, disease, or other types of trauma. Plastic surgery is done to fix an area of the body that has a problem. It is usually required as part of a reconstructive treatment plan, often making it medically necessary for patients.
How Does the Education of Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeons Differ?
Cosmetic and plastic surgical procedures and their outcomes are always different. As a result, the training that cosmetic and plastic surgeons undergo is also unique. Cosmetic surgeons are not required to partake in residency programs, but they get their education in medical schools, residencies, or fellowships involving surgery. They are also board-certified and receive training in their field after completing their residency. Doctors who become certified cosmetic surgeons get that certification from the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery or ABCS.
The catch is that cosmetic procedures can be advertised by any doctor, regardless of certification. This includes non-surgical procedures such as Botox injections that physicians may not have the appropriate training for. This can lead to complications that they likely aren’t capable of handling.
Plastic surgeons have a similar level of training as cosmetic surgeons, but they are required to complete a plastic surgery residency or fellowship before being certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Whether or not the plastic surgeon has additional training, in additional cosmetic procedures, for example, is left up to the individual. If they wish to continue training, they can enter a fellowship program, seminar, or workshop to become trained in more procedures.
Board certification is essential when it comes to a plastic surgeon’s credentials. What’s important to know is which board has certified the doctor you’re researching and what their requirements are for certification. Every board has its own unique requirements. Board-certified plastic surgeons such as Dr. Berman are almost always accredited by the ABPS and can choose to additionally be certified by other agencies, such as the American Society for Cosmetic Surgery, whose requirements are focused on cosmetic procedures.
What Does Board-Certified Mean?
When a cosmetic or plastic surgeon is board-certified, it is one of many aspects that determine their ability to perform quality procedures. As a result, it’s essential to be open and ask doctors about their credentials and check into the organizations that certify them.
There are varying boards: the main being the ABPS. They include the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, the American Board of Medical Specialties, as well as the American Boards of Dermatology, Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Oral, and Maxillofacial Surgery. Each certification beyond the ABPS shows a physician’s commitment to rigorous training and continuing education in a specific field.
These boards generally require at least a four-year residency in cosmetic surgery or plastic surgery. Not all are equal, however, as some only require expertise in a few procedures while allowing the doctor to advertise additional ones that they aren’t specifically trained in.
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in Boca Raton, FL
The more you know about physicians’ backgrounds and training, the better you’ll be able to dig deeper than the advertisement and find out how much expertise they really have. This ensures you get the safest, most satisfactory results from either cosmetic or plastic surgery. For people seeking non-surgical and surgical cosmetic or reconstructive procedures to help improve their appearance, Dr. Jonathan Berman is your board-certified expert. Certified by both the ABPS and the American Board of Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery, Dr. Berman specializes in facial procedures and breast surgery. To learn more about his qualifications and procedures, call our office today or contact us online.
Dr. Jonathan Ross Berman is a Boca Raton plastic surgeon who has been certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery with over 30 years of service experience specializing in Breast Augmentation, Rhinoplasty, Face Lift, Liposuction, and many other types of plastic surgery in Boca Raton, FL.
