Difference between Cosmetic Surgeon and Plastic Surgeon for Facial Procedures

Many patients are interested in having procedures done to improve the functional and aesthetic aspects of the face. However many may not know that there is a difference between a cosmetic surgeon and a plastic surgeon. Nowadays many practitioners from plastic surgery backgrounds and non–plastic surgery backgrounds alike are offering cosmetic services to patients. In a 2013 study only 8 of the 96 study participants were aware that any physician with a medical degree was legally qualified to perform cosmetic surgery. This study was conducted in an article titled “Factors Influencing Patient Interest in Plastic Surgery and the Process of Selecting a Surgeon” written by Galanis et al. appearing in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal (vol. 33, no. 4, May 2013, pp. 585–590). Therefore many surgeons that perform cosmetic surgery may be board certified but not by the American Board of … Read more