Plastic surgery training is completed through a postgraduate residency program · Cosmetic surgery training is primarily completed after residency training. Aesthetic training is acquired in a post-residency grant. General cosmetic surgeons can be certified by the American Board of Aesthetic Surgery (ABCS), while those who specialize in facial cosmetic surgery are certified by the American Board of Aesthetic Facial Surgery (ABFCS), which certifies cosmetic surgeons who specialize in cosmetic procedures of the head, face and neck. All ABCS and ABFCS certified cosmetic surgeons must also have primary certification in another surgical specialty. Board-certified cosmetic surgeons are trained in a 1- to 2-year post-residency fellowship that focuses solely on cosmetic procedures or demonstrate equivalent rigor through their practical experience.
Before they can appear for the joint exam, surgeons must perform a minimum number of common cosmetic procedures that demonstrate that they are specialists in the necessary procedures. Plastic surgery training during medical residency involves reconstructive procedures to improve function and restore appearance after an injury, illness, or congenital disorder. While aesthetic procedures are addressed during this training, it's not the only approach; aesthetic training is just one of the 12 categories of procedures included in the training requirements for obtaining certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), including burn reconstruction, hand surgery, and craniomaxillofacial trauma surgery. While some plastic surgeons may apply for scholarships after residency to specialize in cosmetic surgery, no additional training is required to become board certified.
Plastic surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery; cosmetic surgeons are certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. While both titles qualify a professional as a board-certified surgeon, the American Board of Medical Specialists only recognizes the American Board of Plastic Surgery. The term “plastic” in plastic surgery comes from the Greek word “plastikos”, which means to mold or shape. Plastic surgery includes both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery and surgeries that treat burns on the hands, head and face.
To begin with, the terms cosmetic surgeon and plastic surgeon are often used interchangeably because they can offer similar procedures. However, cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery are different specialties with very specific and nuanced training, philosophies and purposes. Reconstructive plastic surgery may be covered by insurance, while cosmetic plastic surgery is elective and usually isn't cover. Rebuilding a breast after a mastectomy is a reconstructive procedure that should only be performed by a plastic surgeon.
Getting a breast lift (augmentation) is a cosmetic procedure that can be performed by a plastic or cosmetic surgeon. Cosmetic surgeons are certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, while plastic surgeons are accredited by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. However, the American Board of Medical Specialists only recognizes the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Cosmetic surgery: that's just another way of saying plastic surgery, right? Incorrect. Physicians who advertise that they are certified by the American Board of Aesthetic Surgery (ABCS) do not meet the criteria required for board-certified plastic surgeons.
It is important to note that there are several ways to obtain board certification, among other disciplines, such as plastic surgery. You may also notice that some surgeons describe themselves on websites as “cosmetic surgeons” or “plastic surgeons”, but all offer similar procedures. To become certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a surgeon must do at least six years of residency training, and at least half of that training in plastic and reconstructive procedures. One metric often used to select a qualified surgeon is board certification; however, that distinction has become blurry and blurs boundaries for patients. Board certification indicates that a plastic surgeon is committed to improving their craft, has sought all avenues of additional education, and has a strong dedication to the highest standards of safety and performance.
A significant number of plastic surgeons choose to focus their practice on cosmetic surgery and, therefore, the terms are often used indistinctly. For plastic surgeons to obtain board certification, they have to go beyond already extensive general plastic, reconstructive, cosmetic and surgical training. However, plastic surgery refers to procedures, both elective and non-elective, that return the body to its normal function or appearance. For example, aesthetic rhinoplasty is a highly sought after procedure that shares similarities with functional rhinoplasty, a fundamental procedure in the training of plastic surgeons.
Matarasso, which only performs aesthetic procedures, treats daily patients who have had a procedure but who they are not the ideal candidates for this. During this fellowship, surgeons receive extensive training in all cosmetic surgery procedures of the face, breast and body, in addition to non-surgical cosmetic treatments, performing a minimum of 300 individual cosmetic surgery procedures. Depending on the credentials and experience a surgeon acquires, all of the following disciplines may be included in the field of cosmetic surgery. There are currently no residency programs in the United States dedicated exclusively to cosmetic surgery.
This is particularly true for surgeons who decide to go above and beyond in their medical education to obtain board certifications. The society, which represents more than 11,000 medical members worldwide, is recognized as a leading authority and source of information on aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. Cosmetic surgery procedures (sometimes referred to as cosmetic surgery) are non-essential procedures done to change a person's appearance and.
