How are cosmetic surgeons trained?
Before having any form of surgery it is important to know how to find the most qualified person for the job. How does an interested party find a qualified cosmetic surgeon in Las Vegas? In order to find the most qualified doctor for a specific cosmetic procedure; including breast augmentation, eye lid surgery or cosmetic work, an individual must compare doctors through their overall training, including residency and post-residency training, experience and proven competence with respect to specific cosmetic procedures. It is important to know that residency training while required to become board certified in plastic surgery may not include training with respect to many common cosmetic procedures.
The title “board certified plastic surgeon” may indicate certain training and experience with respect to plastic surgery but it does not indicate the same with respect to cosmetic surgery. Board Certified also does not state that a doctor has more or less cosmetic surgery training than a board certified dermatologist, facial plastic surgeon, general surgeon, gynecologist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist, or other doctor.
Just how are cosmetic surgeons trained? There are currently no residency programs in the United States devoted exclusively to cosmetic surgery. Doctors seeking to learn cosmetic surgery primarily obtain training and experience after completing residency training. It is necessary to know this and to understanding the difference between “cosmetic surgery” and “plastic surgery” as discussed in past blog posts. Residency programs in dermatology, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, oral and mazillofacial surgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and plastic surgery do not include training on every cosmetic procedure.