Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Reconstructive Plastic Surgery: What's the Difference?

If you have always thought that cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery were two distinct things, know that you are not the only one. The initial professional path is common and is the specialization in reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery.
At the end of the 5 years of the specialization course in Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery some plastic surgeons choose to devote themselves exclusively to cosmetic surgery and as such to refine with additional training. Others choose to perfect themselves in the methods of reconstructive plastic surgeons by refining particular techniques such as microsurgery or therapy of malformed, burned patients, etc.

In 1999, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons changed its name to American Society of Plastic Surgeons to more strongly communicate the message that “aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgeons are in the same category”.

Today, an increasingly significant number of plastic surgeons choose to focus their further training on the practice of cosmetic surgery. Aesthetic plastic surgery and reconstructive plastic surgery are two closely related branches of the specialty, but they do not have the same field of action.

Cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery have different goals but they have in common many specialized techniques and general philosophies that guide training, research and results goals.Both aesthetic plastic surgery aims to improve appearance, reconstructive plastic surgery has the purpose of restoring a certain damaged body area by restoring a situation of anatomical and functional normality of the patient’s body.
The procedures, techniques and principles of cosmetic surgery are entirely focused on improving the patient’s appearance, increasing their aesthetic appeal. Cosmetic surgery can be performed on all areas of the head, neck and body. Since the treated areas work properly, cosmetic surgery is elective, the choice to undergo an operation is only for the patient.

The scope of cosmetic surgery procedures includes:
– breast enhancement: augmentation, lifting, reduction
– facial contouring: rhinoplasty, chin or cheek augmentation
– Facial rejuvenation: face lift, eyelid lift, neck lift, forehead lift
– body contouring: tummy tuck, liposuction, gynecomastia treatment
– skin rejuvenation: laser resurfacing, botox, filling treatments;

Reconstructive plastic surgery is defined as a surgical specialty dedicated to the repair of defects of the face and body due to malformations of the face or body, trauma, burns and disease and to restore them to a full anatomical and functional normal condition.