Cosmetic surgery is an elective surgery, performed to enhance your appearance. Plastic or reconstructive surgery is performed to repair or reconstruct a physical defect or to restore the function of a part of your body.
Some people associate plastic surgery with cosmetic surgery because of the title. However, plastic surgery did not get its title from the material but rather from the Greek word plastikos, which means to mold or shape.
Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery is a subspecialty that focuses solely on the enhancement of your appearance through surgical techniques. It is specifically concerned with modifying a certain body part to reach an aesthetic goal, in order to increase your self-esteem and self-image. In other words, it is changing the shape of your body for the sake of making you happy.
Cosmetic surgery is a multi-disciplinary and comprehensive approach directed to all areas of the head, neck and body. Examples of cosmetic procedures include:
- Rhinoplasty (nose job)
- Tummy tuck
- Liposuction
- Brow lift
- Facelift
- BOTOX injection
- Injectable fillers and other age-defying procedures
- Chin/cheek implants
Since breast augmentation surgeries enhance a normal body structure, they often fall into the cosmetic surgery category. Because cosmetic surgery is not needed because of a defect or health issue, it is considered an elective procedure and is not generally covered by insurance.
Cosmetic surgery is practiced by surgeons from a variety of disciplines, such as:
- Board-certified dermatologists
- General surgeons
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
- Ophthalmologists
- Otolaryngologists
- Plastic surgeons and physicians from other fields
These many disciplines hove contributed to the impressive growth of the field of cosmetic surgery. The skills used in this type of surgery are learned through a surgeon's post-residency, ongoing training, continued education, and plenty of experience.
Plastic Surgery
Unlike cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery focuses on the repair, reconstruction or replacement of physical defects that involve your:
- Skin
- Musculoskeletal system
- Crainomaxillofacial structure
- Hands and extremities
- Breasts and torso
- External genitalia
Plastic surgery is commonly performed to improve function and help restore a normal appearance. Some patients suffer health complications because of their deformity, and undergo plastic surgery to find relief. This type of surgery can also involve the removal of cancerous tissues and surrounding tissue.
Plastic or reconstructive surgery is generally covered by your health insurance; however levels of coverage and specific procedures vary. Be sure to check with your insurance carrier before undergoing a plastic surgery procedure.
Plastic surgery procedures range from correcting a birth defect such as a cleft palate, to fixing a broken nose caused by an accident. If you have undergone a mastectomy because of cancer and have a breast augmentation to reconstruct your breasts, it is considered reconstructive, and should be covered by insurance.
Choosing Your Surgeon
Selecting a doctor is always an important decision, especially when opting for plastic or cosmetic surgery. Look for your surgeon based on his or her education, training, experience and demonstrated practice history. This is the criteria most commonly used in hospitals.
Make sure your potential surgeon is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). This indicates that he or she has the skills and expertise necessary to perform a safe and effective procedure.