Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty that deals with the restoration, reconstruction, or alteration of the human body. It can also be said to be the functional, structural and aesthetic restoration of defects and deformities of the human body due to birth defects, trauma, burns or disease. The purpose of a plastic surgery is to correct dysfunctional parts of the body and it is reconstructive in nature.
Do you feel dissatisfied with how you look and need a hand enhancing your looks? Cosmetic surgery could be the answer you need.
Cosmetic surgery is a branch of medicine that focuses on enhancing and reshaping normal tissue to improve appearance.
After completing medical school, a board-certified plastic surgeon will first serve as a surgical resident for not less than three years. During the residency, they undergo intense training in all the areas of surgery for three years and then additional three years specializing in plastics.
This is the main difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery.
A cosmetic surgeon doesn’t necessarily have to specialize in any medical branch. The training period can vary from a year-long cosmetic surgery fellowship to a handful of short weekend courses on different topics.
Most common body parts on which cosmetic surgery is performed;
- Breasts-increase or reduce breast size.
- Ears- reduce large ears or set large ears closer to the head.
- Tummy- to flatten the abdomen.
- Nose- change the shape.
- Face-remove creases, wrinkles, scars or ankles.
- Eyes- remove puffy bags below the eyes or correct drooping upper eyelids.
Complications associated with plastic and cosmetic surgery
- Blood loss- this is an expected outcome of any surgery. Extreme blood loss can lead to a drop in blood pressure.
- Nerve damage- numbness and tingling are common after plastic surgery and can signify nerve damage.
- Hematoma- is a painful bruise that is common after breast augmentation and facelift. It is a common risk in nearly all surgeries.
- Infection- is a very common complication of plastic surgery. In some instances, infections can be severe.
- Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism- formation of blood clots in deep veins. They can be fatal.
Other complications that may result from plastic and cosmetic surgery are;-
- Organ damage.
- General appearance dissatisfaction.
- Anesthesia complications.
- Pain.
- Bleeding.
- Scarring
- Seroma.
A plastic surgeon has extensive training and can perform both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, while a cosmetic surgeon cannot all perform reconstructive surgery.
A plastic surgeon can be a cosmetic surgeon but a cosmetic surgeon cannot necessarily be a plastic surgeon.