Plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery are very often confused and are terms that are most often used interchangeably. But one must keep in mind that there are quite a few differences between these surgical procedures. Listed below are the difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery.

Outcome
One of the key difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery what these processes are used for. Cosmetic surgery is used to enhance the appearance through medical and surgical procedures and techniques. So, a person does not have to have a medical condition to undergo this form of surgery, it is elective and used to boost aesthetic appearance. Plastic surgery, on the other hand, are surgical procedures used to reconstruct or correct facial and body defects caused by trauma, disease or burns. It can also be used to rectify birth defects and is sometimes referred to as reconstructive surgery.

Types of Procedures
As mentioned above, cosmetic surgery procedures are elective and can be performed by a doctor from any field. So, some of the procedures for skin rejuvenation include Botox, filler treatment and laser resurfacing, Breast enlargement, reduction or lifting, and facial rejuvenation. The difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery are the former, corrects or reconstructs dysfunctional parts of the body. It is used to restore normal functioning of the part being operated on. A few examples of plastic surgery procedures include burn repair surgery, congenital defect repair including cleft palate, extremity defect repair, and scar revision surgery.

Who Can Perform the Procedures?
Another difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery is that the doctors that perform plastic surgery procedures need to be board certified and complete a post-graduate residency training program. This training program could include cosmetic surgery training, but it does not cover every cosmetic procedure. So, a plastic surgeon can perform cosmetic procedures are specialized in this field. A plastic surgeon in the country needs to be credentialed by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. They should have completed 6-8 years of an accredited plastic surgery training program in the country. Cosmetic surgical procedures can be performed by doctors from any field such as a dentist or dermatologist.

Insurance
Most plastic surgery procedures are considered to be medically necessary and are covered by most health insurance providers. However, not all cosmetic surgery procedures are covered by health insurance, and you would need to check with the provider. To determine if the procedure you wish to undergo is covered by insurance, you need to get the answers to the following questions: “is the procedure cosmetic or reconstructive?” and “is it essential for body function?”

These is quite a bit of difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery, even though they both help to boost a person’s self-confidence. If you are considering on getting cosmetic surgery it is advisable to consult a reputed and well-known doctor.