When you’re considering enhancing your appearance through surgery or non-surgical procedures, you deserve to know you are in the safest and most qualified hands possible. Yet many patients are surprised to learn that not all “cosmetic surgeons” are trained the same way. In fact, the term cosmetic surgeon can be used by almost any licensed physician, even if they have never completed accredited surgical training in cosmetic or plastic procedures.
That’s why understanding the difference between cosmetic surgery vs plastic surgery is not only a matter of vocabulary; it’s a matter of your safety, your health, and your results.
What Makes a Plastic Surgeon?
A plastic surgeon is a physician who has completed:
- Many years of accredited surgical training
- Formal plastic surgery residency or fellowship
- Specialized training in reconstructive and aesthetic procedures
- A rigorous written and oral certification process through the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)
This process is extensive, comprehensive, and demanding. Surgeons are evaluated not only on their medical knowledge and surgical skill, but also on decision-making, safety standards, ethics, patient care, and complication management.
Only after successfully completing this entire process may a doctor call themselves a board-certified plastic surgeon.
What About Cosmetic Surgeons?
Here is where confusion often begins. Many people assume a cosmetic surgeon has the same training, but that is not necessarily true. The title cosmetic surgeon:
- Does not require plastic surgery residency
- May not require any surgical residency at all
- Can be used by any licensed physician after taking short courses or weekend training seminars
- May apply to doctors originally trained in internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, and other fields unrelated to surgery
Some cosmetic surgeons ARE board-certified plastic surgeons, but many are not. A physician may legally advertise cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, breast augmentation, or injectables with only minimal hands-on training.
This is one of the most important distinctions in the cosmetic vs plastic surgery conversation.
Why Proper Surgical Training Matters
Every cosmetic procedure, no matter how routine it may seem, carries potential risks. Anesthesia reactions, bleeding, infection, asymmetry, contour irregularities, and other complications can occur. Here’s the critical difference:
A board-certified plastic surgeon is trained not only to perform the procedure itself, but also to recognize, prevent, and treat complications safely if they occur. This includes extensive knowledge and experience in:
- Anatomy and surgical technique
- Aesthetic judgment and scar minimization
- Emergency response and complication management
- Patient safety and ethics
- Reconstructive problem-solving
A weekend course in liposuction or injectables simply cannot replace that depth of expertise.
Why Patients Deserve the Truth
Cosmetic surgery involves your face, your body, and your confidence. But most importantly, it involves your life. You deserve to know exactly who will be performing your procedure and what qualifications they have to do so. Before choosing a surgeon, ask:
- Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
- Where did you complete your surgical training?
- How many years have you been performing this procedure?
- What hospital privileges do you hold if an emergency occurs?
- May I see before-and-after photos and patient results?
A qualified surgeon will welcome these questions.
Experience Cosmetic Surgery vs Plastic Surgery Difference With Dr. Svehlak
At Sunset Cosmetic Surgery in Los Angeles, our mission is to combine exceptional aesthetic results with the highest safety standards.
“I’m a double board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 35 years of surgical training, which means I’ve mastered anatomy, safety, and aesthetic technique. Many cosmetic surgeons may have only brief training, but my experience in procedures like liposuction, tummy tucks, and breast enhancement helps protect patients and create natural, beautiful results.” – Dr. Svehlak, Sunset Cosmetic Surgery
Safety Isn’t Cosmetic. It’s Essential
If you are seeking cosmetic enhancement, such as breast augmentation,neck lift,rhinoplasty, and more, choose knowledge. Choose experience. Choose a surgeon who has dedicated their career to mastering this field. Your results matter. Your safety matters more.
To schedule a consultation, learn more, or see real patient results, visit us at Sunset Cosmetic Surgery.
