What’s the Difference Between a Plastic Surgeon and a Cosmetic Surgeon

Have you ever wondered if there's a difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon? If you have, you're not alone.

While plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery are closely related, the main difference lies in who performs your surgery and with what credentials to keep you safe and ensure positive outcomes for your procedure.

Reconstructive Surgery vs. Cosmetic Surgery: The Two Branches of Plastic Surgery

The language can complicate matters even more since plastic surgery is broken into two distinct categories: reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery:

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, reconstructive surgery is done to "restore function and appearance to conditions like congenital disabilities, the impacts from certain medical conditions like breast cancer and other types of cancer and trauma caused by accidents or injuries."

On the other hand, cosmetic surgery is to "enhance someone's overall appearance by reshaping and adjusting an anatomy that is already there as a way to make something more visually appealing."

Plastic Surgeons vs. Cosmetic Surgeons: What Is the Difference?

Now that you understand the basics and differences between reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, plastic surgeon Omar Beidas, MD, FACS, is here to answer all your questions about how plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons are educated and trained.

We want you to ensure you're well-equipped to make the best, safest decisions if you're considering taking the next step. Keep reading to learn more from Dr. Beidas:

Who are candidates for plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery?

Dr. Beidas: Patients who are generally healthy, with minimal or controlled co-morbidities. Again, saying plastic vs. cosmetic when referring to the surgery itself is the same thing, but the surgeons are different.

What are the risks and benefits of each type of procedure?

Dr. Beidas: The risks are generally adverse scarring, poor results, contour irregularities, dissatisfaction with results, need for revisions or future surgery, bleeding (this can be severe enough to require return to the OR), and fluid collection. In addition, there are risks associated with anesthesia. That's why it's important to see a board-certified plastic surgeon to minimize these risks, and ensure and your surgeon is capable of handling complications if they arise, for the best possible results.

Who performs plastic surgery, and with what qualifications?

Dr. Beidas: A plastic surgeon, board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, requires at least five years of training in the field of plastic surgery. Completing a residency requires a minimum number of cases in each category of plastic surgery, whether it be an abdominoplasty, breast reconstruction after cancer, or cleft lip repair.

Getting certified by the ABPS requires passing a written and oral exam that tests a surgeon's safety and ethical standards. Some surgeons complete additional fellowships, including reconstruction, aesthetic or craniofacial training.

In addition to the rigorous certification requirements, maintaining certification requires continuing certification yearly and maintaining hospital privileges at a local hospital that allows us to care for patients should a complication arise. The American Board of Plastic Surgery is the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, which is the same board that oversees several specialties, including anesthesia, general surgery, OB/GYN, ED and others.

Who performs cosmetic surgery, and with what qualifications?

Dr. Beidas: A cosmetic surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery is not as straightforward or well-published. It's also not recognized by the ABMS. Physicians can have a number of other boards to be eligible for certification by the ABCS, including non-surgeons and surgeons with no knowledge of plastic surgery-pediatricians, OB/GYNs or general surgeons, for example. Cosmetic surgeons cannot perform cosmetic or plastic surgery in a hospital.

What advice do you have for people interested in plastic or cosmetic surgery when choosing a provider, keeping safety in mind?

Dr. Beidas: Always seek surgery from a board-certified plastic surgeon. An easy way to differentiate the two types is to ask a couple of key questions:

1. What board are you certified by?
2. Are you credentialed to perform this surgery in a hospital?

Why are these questions important? First, as plastic surgeons stressed the importance of board certification, cosmetic surgeons created the ABCS to circumvent it. They can say they're "board-certified," but remember, the board's cosmetic surgeons take are not of the same quality or level of rigor as those of plastic surgeons.

Number two is important because a hospital would never credential a non-plastic surgeon to perform plastic surgery procedures like an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), liposuction, or mastopexy (breast lift). After all, they do not want the liability of allowing them to perform a procedure they are not trained in. If a hospital won't grant a doctor privileges to perform a procedure because of their training, you should reconsider choosing that physician to perform it.

Feel Like Your Best Self

Being able to feel good about yourself is important. Plastic surgery can help you feel like your best self again. Our board-certified plastic surgeons offer cosmetic surgery, reconstructive surgery and more.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Beidas today. You deserve to feel whole.

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