False messages Misinform patients
Consumers considering cosmetic surgery are almost universally unaware of the difference between "cosmetic" surgery and "plastic" surgery. For this reason, they are easily misled to believe board certification in plastic surgery evidences a physician's competence to perform plastic surgery. It does not. Importantly, with an expanding number of consumers anxious to undergo cosmetic surgery and a highly competitive pool of physicians, it is imperative consumers have access to accurate information. It is equally imperative consumers have the freedom to choose among competitors and that the number of qualified cosmetic surgeons is not artificially restricted. Unfortunately, the public almost universally equaltes cosmetic and plastic surgery as one and the same. Consumer's misapprehension in this regard has them relying on incomplete and false information when choosing a physician to perform their cosmetic procedure.
Understanding the difference between Cosmetic surgery and Plastic surgery
Cosmetic surgery is a subspecialty that uniquely restricts itself to the enhancement of appearance through surgical and medical means. It is specifically concerned with maintaining normal appearance, restoring it or enhancing it toward some aesthetic ideal. Cosmetic surgery is a multi-disciplinary and comprehensive approach directing to all areas of the head, neck and body. Cosmetic surgery is practiced by surgeons from a variety of disciplines including board certified dermatologists, general surgeons, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologist, plastic surgeons and physicians from other fields. All of these disciplines have contributed to the vital growth of cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgery is primarily learned during a surgeon's post residency though ongoing continuing education, training and experience.
Unlike cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery deals with the repair, reconstruction or replacement of physical defects of form or function invlving the skin, musculoskeletal system, craniomaxillofacial structure, hand extremities, breast and trunk and external genitalia. While board-certification in plastic surery may evidence a physician's competence in "plastic surgery", it does not evidence competency in "cosmetic surgery" nor does it demosntrate more "cosmetic surgery" education, training or experience than that of a board-certified dermatologist, general surgeon, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, otolaryngologist, ophthalmologist or other surgeon.