It is a highly experienced specialty in pioneering novel surgical solutions for problems related to congenital, oncological and traumatic disorders, as well as in improving quality of life, such as facial resuscitation or supermicrosurgery for lymphedema. If you've always thought that cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery were the same thing, you're not alone. A significant number of plastic surgeons choose to focus their practice on cosmetic surgery and, therefore, the terms are often used interchangeably. But this is not technically correct.
Cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery are closely related specialties, but they are not the same thing. While both cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery seek to improve the patient's body, the general philosophies that guide training, research, and goals for patients are different. Plastic surgery is defined as a surgical specialty dedicated to the reconstruction of facial and body defects caused by congenital disorders, injuries, burns and diseases. Plastic surgery aims to correct dysfunctional areas of the body and, by definition, is reconstructive in nature.
While many plastic surgeons choose to complete additional training and also perform cosmetic surgery, the foundation of their surgical training remains reconstructive plastic surgery. In fact, in 1999, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons changed its name to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to more firmly convey the message that “plastic and reconstructive surgeons are the same.” Plastic surgery residency programs may include cosmetic surgery as part of surgeon training, but usually do not include training in all cosmetic procedures. Therefore, the title “board-certified plastic surgeon” indicates a certain level of training and experience with respect to plastic surgery, but it does not indicate the same with respect to cosmetic surgery, since the residency training required to obtain board certification in plastic surgery may not include training with respect to many common cosmetic procedures, ² It also does not indicate that the doctor has more or less training in cosmetic surgery than that of a certified physician in another specialty. The training, experience, and knowledge needed to become a board-certified cosmetic surgeon reflect a specialization that goes beyond what is needed to obtain board certification in a related discipline, such as plastic surgery. Every surgeon certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery has completed a 1-year fellowship certified by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery exclusively in cosmetic surgery.
During this fellowship, surgeons receive extensive training in all facial, breast and body cosmetic surgery procedures, in addition to non-surgical cosmetic treatments, and perform a minimum of 300 individual cosmetic surgery procedures. This training grant is in addition to completing a 3- to 5-year residency program in a related discipline. Currently, about 16.7% of board-certified plastic surgeons in Saudi Arabia are women, and approximately 40% of plastic surgery residents are also women. From the enormous variety of pathologies typical of the plastic surgeon's field of expertise to the flexibility of a professional lifestyle, plastic surgery offers professionals lifelong satisfaction in the practice of surgery. In fact, the field of plastic surgery is so broad that there are subspecialties within the specialty of plastic surgery, such as cranio-maxillofacial surgery, microvascular surgery, hand surgery, and cosmetic surgery, to name just a few.
Because cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery have different practice objectives based on a set of specific procedures, it only follows that the training and certification process of a board-certified plastic surgeon will be very different from that of a board-certified plastic surgeon. Career dissatisfaction was more prominent among plastic surgeons responsible for emergency room calls, as reported by Streu et al. Regardless of the type of practice a plastic surgeon practices, those who choose plastic surgery as a profession can be sure that they will continue to face new challenges in a field that is always changing. Residency training in plastic surgery is designed to educate and train general physicians in the art and science of plastic and reconstructive surgery and to develop a competent and responsible plastic surgeon with a high moral and ethical character capable of functioning as an independent surgeon. Plastic surgery is recognized for a variety of procedures, as well as for the different characteristics of patients encountered in the daily practice of a plastic surgeon.
While there is no data to analyze the consciousness of medical students with an established interest in plastic surgery at the local level, it is suggested that students' superficial idea of plastic surgery is superficial. Hand surgeons treat congenital, acquired and traumatic musculoskeletal problems of the hand and upper extremities, using both plastic and orthopedic surgical techniques. A plastic surgeon may choose to limit their practice to one of these areas or practice the full scope of plastic surgery. Elective aesthetic procedures are performed by doctors from various fields of medicine, including plastic surgeons.
