There absolutely is a difference between the terms plastic surgeon and cosmetic surgeon. An important one. In fact, this is one of the fundamental concepts to understand thoroughly before deciding whom you’ll choose to alter your appearance.
A surgeon who rightfully calls himself or herself a plastic surgeon has first been trained in general surgery. They then choose plastic surgery as their specialty and go on to get additional training and experience in that field. They become qualified to perform both reconstructive surgery, such as cleft palate repair, and cosmetic surgery, such as breast augmentation.
Plastic surgery was formally established as an area of surgical specialization in the 1930s, when the American Board of Plastic Surgery was formed. The role of the ABPS, similar to that of the American Board of Neurological Surgery and the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, is to evaluate plastic surgeons and ensure standards of training and patient care are met.
With this organization in place to ensure plastic surgeons measure up, you have a reliable resource at your fingertips. One of the best ways to ensure your prospective surgeon has been thoroughly trained and evaluated is to choose one who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. The requirements for ABPS board certification include: a degree from an accredited medical school, at least five years of surgical internship and residency with at least two years devoted to plastic surgery, two years of successful practice and passing scores on oral and written exams.
In contrast, a cosmetic surgeon is a doctor who performs procedures to change the way a patient looks. There are no requirements or standards to be met other than those needed to use the initials M.D. It may be surprising but it’s true. Gynecologists, dermatologists and other doctors can add cosmetic procedures to their repertoire and often do. Cosmetic surgery is lucrative and most often free of insurance hassles for physicians.
Think of cosmetic surgery as a subset of plastic surgery. Some board-certified plastic surgeons perform both reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery. Some perform just cosmetic surgery, and may refer to themselves as cosmetic surgeons. But to be fair, a physician who happens to perform cosmetic surgery should not refer to himself or herself as a plastic surgeon; they're not trained as such.
No matter whether you’re considering breast reconstruction after a mastectomy or a simple breast implant exchange, no matter whether you’re looking to correct a facial deformity or roll back the clock with a facelift, you deserve to work with a professional who has the utmost training and experience. There’s no guarantee when it comes to surgery, but choosing a plastic surgeon who’s certified by the ABPS is a good starting point.