Choosing a Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon

    WASHINGTON, DC, November 02, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The terms "cosmetic surgery" and "plastic surgery" are often used interchangeably. In fact, the two can be distinguished from one another, and each should be considered separately when choosing a cosmetic or plastic surgeon for your procedure. Surgeons differ in experience, training and certification. An important aspect of choosing a cosmetic surgeon is to inquire about the surgeon's experience in the specific procedure you are seeking.

Cosmetic vs. Plastic Surgery

In general, cosmetic surgery aesthetically enhances a body part or feature. For example, a neck lift can do away with excess weight around the neck. This is an especially useful procedure for individuals who have lost weight, but can't get rid of that final sagging underneath the chin. This cosmetic surgery procedure improves the appearance of the neck, but is not correcting an abnormality or defect.

Conversely, plastic surgery encompasses both cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery. Plastic surgeons provide cosmetic procedures, but some plastic surgeons are also trained to surgically correct the appearance of an abnormality, birth defect or injury.

Both cosmetic and plastic surgery help patients achieve their most appealing outward self. Choosing a specific cosmetic or plastic surgeon will depend mostly on the procedure you are seeking and how the surgeon's experience, training and other qualifications are pertinent to the procedure.

Which to Choose, Cosmetic or Plastic?

Here are some things to consider when choosing a cosmetic surgeon or plastic surgeon:

- Specific procedure. Both cosmetic and plastic surgeons have varying experience in certain procedures. You should seek out a surgeon who has extensive experience in your procedure.
- Board certification. Be certain to choose a surgeon who is board certified and inquire as to what the surgeon is certified in. A board certified plastic surgeon does not necessarily have training and experience in certain cosmetic procedures.
- For cosmetic surgeons, fellowships are important. Because there is not a hospital residency program for cosmetic surgery (there are residencies for plastic surgery), cosmetic surgeons will fulfill residencies in things like maxillofacial surgery and receive cosmetic surgery training afterwards. A cosmetic surgeon who stands apart from other surgeons will have completed a fellowship in some aspect of cosmetic surgery; this gives the surgeon a highly specialized knowledge of a specific area of cosmetic surgery as opposed to a cosmetic surgeon without fellowship training.

To learn more about cosmetic surgery in Washington, D.C., please visit the website of Dr. Daria Hamrah at NOVA SurgiCare, PC at www.novasurgicare.com.

# # #