Plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery have different meanings and purposes. Though these types of surgery require extensive knowledge and expertise, plastic surgery needs to be done by professional and board-certified plastic surgeons. On the other hand, cosmetic surgery is a kind of surgery that can be performed by both cosmetic and plastic surgeons. Which is to say, any plastic surgeon has the skills and expertise to perform the various procedure related to cosmetic surgery. Physicians on these different types or surgery need to be certified by ABPS for plastic surgery and ABCS for cosmetic surgery.
Cosmetic surgery is a kind of surgery that focuses on the enhancement of overall appearance through surgical or non-surgical techniques. It can be performed on any area of the body which includes the neck and head. The procedures related to cosmetic surgery are elective and are not usually covered by insurance companies. On the other hand, plastic surgery restores or reconstructs defects on the face or body. These defects may be because of trauma, diseases, burns or birth disorders. This kind of surgery is intended to correct dysfunctional areas of the body. Therefore, plastic surgery can be considered reconstructive surgery.
The difference between these two surgeries lies in their purpose As the name suggests, plastic surgery needs to be performed by a plastic surgeon and cosmetic surgery by a cosmetic surgeon. However, in some instances, plastic surgeons can also perform cosmetic surgery since they have completed some training related to cosmetic surgery. In addition to that, their field of specialization is higher in scope in comparison to cosmetic surgeons.