Plastic Surgery- What is it?
Cosmetic surgery or in some parts of the world referred to as plastic surgery is a specialised medical procedure. Broadly defined, it involves the enhancement of appearance through surgical and medical techniques. These techniques are many and varied and are rising in popularity especially for males although the numbers still favour females. Cosmetic surgery is mostly concerned with maintaining normal appearance, restoring it, or enhancing it beyond the average level.
If you are facing surgery then your’re not alone. Millions of people have surgery each year, however most are not emergencies. When cosideration a cosmetic surgery procedure you have time to ask your surgeon questions about the operation and time to decide whether to have it, and if so, when and where. The information presented here does not apply to emergency surgery.
You will want to know that your surgeon is experienced and qualified to perform the operation. Many surgeons have taken special training and passed exams given by a national board of surgeons. Ask if your surgeon is “board certified” in surgery. Some surgeons also have the letters F.A.C.S. after their name. This means they are Fellows of the American College of Surgeons and have passed another review by surgeons of their surgical practices.
Special skill and knowledge are essential and specialists in cosmetic surgery are competent in the anatomy, physiology, pathology and basics sciences. The educational profile of cosmetic surgeons is unique in that it begins with a fully trained and certified surgeon. Through continued post-residency education training, and experience, cosmetic surgery is taught and learned across traditional disciplinary boundaries. The subspecialty fully incorporates the participation and knowledge from all contributing disciplines to attain a high level of skill and understanding. Contributing disciplines include dermatologic surgery, facial plastic surgery, general surgery, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, oculoplastic surgery, oral-maxillofacial surgery and others.
The plastic surgeon offers specialized expertise in cosmetic surgery patient education and counseling, procedural skills, and the early recognition and treatment of complications. Cosmetic surgeons have enhanced the knowledge and training of fellow physicians and directly benefited society through educational publications, scientific journals and in the development of safe and innovative cosmetic surgery techniques.
Competency in cosmetic surgery implies a combination of knowledge, surgical judgment, technical expertise and ethics in order to achieve the goal of providing aesthetic improvement. If you’re considering having a nose job, brow lift, liposuction, or some other cosmetic surgery we offer tips and advice to help you choose a surgeon and cosmetic surgery procedure.