Cosmetic and plastic surgeries are surgical procedures to change or alter body parts. Both are performed by skilled surgeons. Naturally, many are under the impression that cosmetic and plastic surgery are the same. Apart from the shared goal, their similarity ends. While cosmetic surgery is done to enhance a person’s appearance and is normally done to body parts that are working properly, it is essentially an elective surgery.

Here are the main differences:

1. Cosmetic surgery
Cosmetic surgeries are normally done by medical professionals from multiple fields. Cosmetic surgery works to enhance aesthetic appeal. Some of the popular procedures that are sought after are:

  • Face: Surgeries that change the contours of the face, chin, nose, and cheeks. Facelifts, eyebrow lift, and eyelid lifts are done to enhance appearance.
  • Breast: Breast augmentation, breast reduction, and breast lifts. Breast reduction surgery for men is also possible.
  • Body: Tummy tuck and liposuction.
  • Skin: Botox and laser resurfacing.

Since cosmetic surgery is elective, it may not be covered by insurance. For example, breast augmentation is not covered by insurance. A cosmetic surgeon should be certified by a board. The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery exclusively certifies cosmetic surgeons.

Cosmetic surgeons should finish medical school and their residency program. There are no specialty residency programs for cosmetic surgery. Hence they attend training programs, seminars, and workshops in cosmetic surgery to gain experience. They should also be certified by boards like the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery which have a strict set of criteria which the surgeon has to fulfill to be eligible for certification. A cosmetic surgeon cannot do plastic surgery.

2. Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is done to restore or reconstruct damage to any part of the body as a result of birth, illness, accident, growth deficiencies or burns. The purpose of plastic surgery is to restore the function of an impaired organ or any part of the body that is not functioning normally. Since that part of the body is effectively rebuilt, this surgery is also known as reconstructive surgery. Plastic surgery could involve multiple surgeries over some time before the operated part heals completely or regains its functions. As plastic reconstructive surgery helps in healing or restoration of health, it can be covered by insurance. Some of the most common reconstructive plastic surgical procedures are:

  • Surgery to repair skin and any part of the body that has faced a burn injury
  • Breast reconstruction
  • Cleft repair
  • Scar revision surgery
  • Hand and lower extremities surgery

A breast reduction is a cosmetic procedure and is done by a cosmetic surgeon. If there is a necessity to reconstruct a breast after mastectomy, that should and can be done only by a plastic surgeon.

Plastic surgeons also finish medical school and residency – there are residency programs available with plastic surgery as a speciality. They can also pursue an optional fellowship in plastic surgery and be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. They can also do specific training in cosmetic surgery and be certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. This means a certified plastic surgeon can become a proficient cosmetic surgeon whereas the reverse is difficult without certification.