A plastic surgeon is a surgeon who has received special training in cosmetic surgery which includes a number of procedures that require major surgical techniques. This type of doctor is also trained in performing reconstructive surgery.
Plastic surgery initially came to be as a means to make new parts of the
body deemed disfigured or found to be unsightly as a result of injury.
Skin grafts were among the first procedures used and involved the
transplantation of skin from one body part to another. Operation on a
cleft palate was the first procedure performed, dating back over 180
years ago, though the results were, quite obviously, not as advanced as
what is performed these days. War in the early 20th century brought
about the most prominent changes in this field, with soldiers returning
from home with disfigured bodies.
Reconstructive surgery has maintained its utility in recent years, and
the areas covered are significantly broader than what once existed. In
spite of modern medical advances, this is still viewed as a particularly
serious surgery, and often involves a stay at a hospital.
In modern cosmetic surgery, common operations include breast work, nose
jobs and liposuction. Many cosmetic surgeries are not grouped with
reconstructive surgeries in terms of severity or invasiveness, and may
simply be same day operations that can be obtained through a skilled
plastic surgeon.
A plastic surgeon will commonly specialize in a particular field of
cosmetic surgery, but many offer a wide variety of services. One
particularly popular focus for surgeons is breast augmentation. Surgeons
who specialize here may perform reconstructive surgeries for patients
following a mastectomy, while other patients may simply seek these
services for personal reasons. A benefit of specialization is the
optimization of technique that results in higher quality and seamless
integration into the patient's body. Newer patients can ask a plastic
surgeon for examples of his or her work and view before and after
photographs to determine if the results are satisfactory enough to
pursue an operation with the surgeon's practice.
As a certified board physician, a plastic surgeon is required to
complete medical school, a three-year residency as well as another
three-year residency specifically in plastic surgery before receiving
board certification in order to open an independent practice. While
there are many medical boards specializing in plastic surgery, each
board has its own requirements for certification. Regardless of how many
certifications the individual practitioner has, a plastic surgeon must
have some form of board certification in order to do any procedure, even
nonsurgical types.
The field of plastic surgery has significantly broadened its scope since
the early days, and is becoming more commonly used by average citizens.
The stigma of “having work done” by a doctor has begun to lessen, and
with advances in procedures and modern technology, it has become easier
to have such an operation performed than ever before.
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