Comparing Plastic Surgery to Cosmetic Surgery

You have heard the terms plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery. You may be one of the many people who uses these two terms to mean the same thing. But are they the same? What is cosmetic surgery exactly and what is plastic surgery?

Defining Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery, as the name suggests is a branch of the medical field that is focused on improving and enhancing the look of a person, be it their face and head, their body or both. This can be accomplished by way of surgical means, medical techniques or in some instances, a combination of the two. Surgery that is cosmetic in nature is done to improve the aesthetics of a particular region of the body but has nothing to do with the functional element of the human body. To put it another way, cosmetic procedures are elective for the individual who wishes to undergo them.

Defining Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery on the other hand is a specialty type of surgery that is all about correcting a region of the body that no longer works properly or looks as it is supposed to. For instance a woman who loses a breast to cancer would require reconstructive surgery to improve the appearance of her bosom. This would be surgery of a plastic nature because it is correcting an area that was damaged by disease.

The Difference Between the Two

There is a difference in choosing to have a cosmetic procedure or a plastic procedure. While these surgical specialties bear some resemblance they are not exactly the same. If you want to have an operation performed then it helps to know the difference between the two in order for you to decide whether to book a consultation with a cosmetic doctor or with a plastic doctor.

Cosmetic surgery can make you look better while surgical procedures that are plastic in design can make you function better. The former can remove fat from your thighs to make them more shapely and youthful looking while the latter can do something about the cut, scar or burn that you received in an accident. There are elements of improving how body parts look in plastic procedures but that is not their primary purpose. Their purpose is to get you back to normal and back to proper working order.

Only plastic surgeons have the education and credentials to perform plastic related surgical procedures. Cosmetic surgery can be performed by those who are trained as cosmetic surgeons but it can also be undertaken by physicians from other branches of the medical profession such as facial plastic surgeons, gynecologists, dermatologists, general surgeons, ophthalmologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and otolaryngologists. Plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery can both be done by plastic surgeons whereas cosmetic surgeons are only qualified to perform cosmetic surgery procedures.

If you require plastic work due to a trauma you have suffered then you need to look for a surgeon who is experienced in the operation that you require. Do your homework in this regard to find the most suitable candidate for the job.