Cosmetic Question: I watch the TV channel Bravo. I saw an ad for the ASPS, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons: “What is the difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon?”
Cosmetic Answer:
Great question. It is very important to understand what is going on in plastic surgery.
Plastic surgeons developed the entire field of cosmetic treatments, starting with face lifts a hundred years ago. Only fully trained plastic surgeons with Board Certification in plastic surgery can belong to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons – or ASPS for short. It is the most prestigious membership for any doctor who does cosmetic work.
Years ago, only plastic surgeons did cosmetic surgery and cosmetic treatments. We have the best training in the field. Three other specialties – ENT, eye surgeons and skin doctors (dermatologist) have some training in cosmetic surgery and other cosmetic treatments.
But cosmetic treatments and surgery are very popular. Lots of other people want ‘in’ – purely to make money.
The problem is, they have little or no training in cosmetic work – ‘training’ may be a weekend lecture course. But these doctors can legally call themselves anything they want – a ‘plastic’ surgeon, a ‘cosmetic surgeon’ or a Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeon – this “Board Certification” is a scam. Any doctor can buy it off the internet.
Cosmetic surgery is not easy to do well and safely. Even the best trained plastic surgeons have complications. Without training or with poor training, people suffer completely avoidable horrible complications and even deaths. This is on the rise in the USA.
We are seeing complications and deaths from cosmetic treatments done by untrained medical doctors – and worse complications and more frequent deaths from treatments done by ‘experts’ who aren’t doctors at all.
You don’t want to pay for cosmetic surgery – and find out your ‘doctor’ has no training, isn’t a medical doctor or is willing to kill you for money.
Here are just a few things I have seen, from non-plastic surgeons doing cosmetic surgery:
– Promotion of expensive, ineffective treatments,
– Unnecessarily painful and unsatisfactory liposuction,
– Death from incompetent liposuction
And that’s cosmetic work done by medical doctors doing cosmetic surgery and treatments without proper training.
I have also seen –
– A podiatrist cause permanent, horrible facial scarring by not knowing how to deal with bleeding he caused when he gave a facial filler injection (podiatrists are trained to work on the foot, not the face),
– A nurse and a PA inject fillers into the tissues of the eye, risking blindness,
– A self-styled ‘therapist’ inject liquid silicone into the buttock, causing permanent hardening of the buttock into a rock like substance,
– Phony Botox and phony filler injected – by various people including a photographer and a hair stylist.
How can you avoid falling into the hands of shady people or untrained doctors?
Some people thoroughly educate themselves about the complex field of medical licensure, Board Certification and residency training and research every doctor they see to assess their qualifications and credentials. That takes a lot of work.
In the alternative, you can make it easy for yourself by only consulting a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who is a member of the ASPS. When it comes to your looks, your eyes and your lift, the best trained specialists is the best one to see.
We offer all cosmetic office and surgical procedures and cosmetic dermatology.
We have offices in Buckhead (Atlanta) and Alpharetta.
We personally answer our phones so it’s easy! Give us a call! 404.941-3200
For more information, search our blogs or go to www.realself.com – where Dr. Morgan regularly posts answers.