Differences Between Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Surgery  

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Differences Between Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Surgery  

Are you interested in either plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery, but aren’t sure what the difference is, or what the options are? This article will hopefully help educate you in the different goals of both plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery, and what they can both achieve. Often, people use the terms ‘plastic surgery’ and ‘cosmetic surgery’ to mean the same thing, but this isn’t actually correct. The two are similar and related, but aren’t the same thing.  

Plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery have different objectives.  

Both plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery are used to change or enhance someone’s appearance, but their goals and the reasons for doing them are different.  

 Cosmetic Surgery  

Cosmetic surgery is focused on the general idea of improving someone’s appearance. This may be through enhancing a particular body part, such as the lips or breasts, to make them more visually appealing. Other examples may include augmenting, lifting or reducing the breasts, changing the face through contouring, and rhinoplasty or cheek enhancement. There are also other procedures that target the body, such as a tummy tucks or in the form of liposuction to make the waist thinner. Skin is another area that is often focused on in cosmetic surgery. This may be in the form of botox, or laser treatment and filler treatments to make the skin appear smoother and appealing. Finally, plastic surgery is perhaps one of the most well-known forms of cosmetic surgery, and will generally have the goal of reconstructing the face to look a certain way, or probably to change a defect in appearance. 

Plastic Surgery  

Plastic surgery is described as a treatment specifically for those that have suffered a trauma such as a burn, disease, birth defect, or trauma. The purpose of the surgery is to correct the defect caused by the trauma, and to reconstruct the affected area to its original form. Some surgeons perform both plastic and cosmetic surgery, but this isn’t always the case. Often, plastic surgeons are specifically trained in these types of surgery. Some examples of plastic surgery include surgery to repair burn, breast reconstructive surgery, repairing a cleft palate or treatment of a defective extremity, hand surgery, and revising scars caused by an accident or other means.  

In addition to the differences in types of surgery and their goals, cosmetic surgeons and plastic surgeons often have different training. Plastic surgeons have finished a post-grad residency programme, and need to either complete an integrated programme including 3 years of surgery, and then the additional 3 years of plastic surgery to become fully qualified, or they need to complete a full 5-year residency programme in general surgery, and then the extra 3 years of plastic surgery. Des Moines Iowa plastic surgery is an excellent example of a surgery with highly qualified staff.   

Cosmetic surgery, on the other hand, is done after a surgeon’s residency. There are no programmes just dedicated to cosmetic surgery. Instead, a fellowship will generally be found to do the additional training necessary to perform the procedures. This will generally include training in all the needed surgeries such as breast, face, and body, as well as at least 300 procedures.