Coined from the Greek word plastikos, which means to shape or mold something, the term plastic surgery was first used in the 19th century to describe the process in. Cosmetic surgery is performed to improve the overall aesthetic appearance by remodeling and adjusting the normal anatomy to make it more visually appealing. Unlike reconstructive surgery, cosmetic surgery is not considered medically necessary.
Breast augmentation, breast
lift, liposuction, tummy tuck (tummy tuck), and facelift are popular examples of cosmetic surgery procedures.If you've always thought that cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery were the same thing, you're not alone. A significant number of plastic surgeons choose to focus their practice on cosmetic surgery and, therefore, the terms are often used interchangeably. But this is not technically correct. Cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery are closely related specialties, but they are not the same thing. While health insurance rarely covers the cost of cosmetic procedures, the number of people who decide to have cosmetic plastic surgery continues to increase.
The main cosmetic surgeries are breast augmentation, liposuction, nose remodeling, eyelid surgery, tummy tuck and facelifting. Plastic surgery may have gained popularity in recent decades, but people have been practicing the art of altering body tissue since ancient times. Plastic surgery residency programs may include cosmetic surgery as part of the surgeon's training, but usually don't include training in all cosmetic procedures. The lines between reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery are further blurred when it comes to insurance coverage.
Therefore, the title of “certified plastic surgeon” indicates a certain level of training and experience with respect to plastic surgery, but does not indicate the same with respect to cosmetic surgery, since the residency training required to obtain certification in plastic surgery may not include training with respect to many common cosmetic procedures. Plastic surgery is a broad field that includes not only cosmetic or aesthetic surgery, but also the surgical repair of congenital deformities, such as a cleft lip and palate, post-surgical reconstruction, such as breast and head and neck defects, and the correction of post-traumatic defects. The procedures, techniques, and principles of cosmetic surgery focus exclusively on improving the patient's appearance. At Mayo Clinic, the Plastic Surgery staff has 19 plastic surgeons spread over three campuses, with specialized training and skills in one or more of the various reconstructive and cosmetic surgery services that include cosmetic plastic surgery, breast surgery, reconstructive surgery, craniofacial surgery, facial reconstructive surgery, reconstructive microsurgery, pediatric plastic surgery, laser surgery and hand surgery.
Choose a board-certified plastic surgeon and rest assured that you are under the care of a highly trained surgeon you can trust. Every surgeon certified by the American Board of Aesthetic Surgery has completed a 1-year fellowship of training certified by the American Academy of Aesthetic Surgery exclusively in cosmetic surgery. In reality, there is often significant overlap between reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery, as they share many of the same underlying surgical principles. Because cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery have different practice objectives based on a set of specific procedures, it only follows that the training and certification process of a board-certified plastic surgeon will be very different from that of a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty used to describe a wide range of procedures that are performed to improve or change a person's appearance for aesthetic or corrective reasons. Mastopexy (breast lift), breast augmentation (enlargement), breast reduction, and correction of breast asymmetry are popular plastic surgery procedures. There are currently no residency programs in the United States dedicated exclusively to cosmetic surgery.
