Difference between Plastic Surgery & Cosmetic Surgery
Plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery can be confusing terms; often used interchangeably, they are two distinct disciplines.
- 1) Plastic surgery
It is commonly used as a general term for operative or instrumental treatment performed for aesthetic reasons. In reality, plastic surgery is the field which addresses corrective or functional surgeries and procedures. The plastic surgeon is often at work due to the effects of accidents, burns or disease, and has a full surgical residency and strict medical requirements governing their certification.
- 2) Cosmetic Surgery
It is a subfield of plastic surgery and addresses aesthetic or elective procedures in order to enhance features a patient finds unflattering about themselves. Cosmetic surgery is also performed on bodily parts for health purposes, such as breast reductions. The other area of plastic surgery is reconstructive surgery, which takes place when a part of a patient has been damaged in something like an accident or a fire.
Addiction to Cosmetic Surgeries
- 16 million plastic surgery done annually
According to the annual plastic surgery procedural statistics, there were 16 million surgical and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2015, a 2 percent increase over 2014.
- Looks are more important than ever before.
Many people, and especially women, are availing themselves of the many opportunities to have cosmetic procedures on parts they do not like. This cultural reality is reflected in shows such as Extreme Makeover and other hit medical shows that document bodily changes.
- People are becoming addicted to cosmetic surgeries.
The fact is that once a person sees how very easy it is to get something they don't like fixed, the more about themselves they do not like and want remedied. Prime celebrity examples of this include Michael Jackson and Joan Rivers.
Do Not Take Cosmetic Surgery Lightly
Cosmetic surgery should never be undertaken without psychological as well as medical consultation. It is imperative that the patient not undertake the operation lightly, with full knowledge of the hazards and the risks of becoming an addict.
Research About Your Surgeon
It is also very important for a potential patient to do research on the surgeon that will be performing the procedure. There is a lot of money to be made in the cosmetic surgery industry, and all sorts of frauds and quacks are out to get a piece of action. With most things in life, it is important to remember that cheap prices mean cheap work, there is simply no way around it.
Those looking for surgeons must choose wisely, or the results could be even more operations and even greater risks. Make sure you choose surgeons that are certified.
