Cosmetic Surgeon Cosmetic Surgery Plastic Surgeon Plastic Surgery

Cosmetic Surgeon vs. Plastic Surgeon: 4 Important Differences

Doctor

Many people believe that plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons are one and the same, but there are a few significant differences. Here are some comparisons that can help you decide which to choose.

1. Medical School Training

Becoming a plastic surgeon requires completing medical school and a 3-5 year general surgical residency followed by another three-year residency that focuses on plastic surgery training (or 6 years of plastic surgery residency.) A cosmetic surgeon can be a practitioner from any specialty who then seeks out additional training to perform specific cosmetic procedures.

2. Board Certification

The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is acknowledged by the American Board of Medical Specialties, so board certified plastic surgeons are held to the highest standards of excellence with regard to skill, ethics, judgment, safety and knowledge.

Cosmetic surgeons typically belong to another specialty, such as dermatology, ENT or OBGYN, but there’s no official board certification process for cosmetic surgery because it’s not recognized as an official specialty by the ABMS.

3. Ongoing Requirements to Maintain Board Certification

Achieving your board certification from the ABPS is one thing, but keeping it is another. Board certified plastic surgeons must adhere to a strict regimen of continued, accredited education in their field in order to maintain their board certification. This point is moot for cosmetic surgeons, as board certification in cosmetic surgery doesn’t exist.

4. Experience Level

Plastic surgeons are highly experienced after years of required, procedure-specific training, while cosmetic surgeons may or may not undergo additional voluntary training in cosmetic procedures. Although certainly there are some skilled cosmetic surgeons out there, it’s also possible to find (for example) gynecologists performing liposuction. Before trusting your body and results to any surgeon, do extensive research on his or her training, experience and board certifications.

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