People use the terms plastic surgery and cosmetic body surgery interchangeably, but the procedures differ. Both medical science disciplines improve a person's body but differ in functionality, among other things.
One main difference is that cosmetic and plastic surgeons have different functions, academic qualifications, and expertise.
Here are a few more differences between the two disciplines.
The Function of the Surgery
Cosmetic surgery is an aesthetic enhancement procedure. You can go for cosmetic surgery for a body part that functions well and doesn't need surgery to work. For instance, you can go for breast enlargement surgery purely to boost your appearance if you wish.
Some examples of cosmetic surgery procedures include:
On the other hand, plastic surgery is any surgical procedure that aims to reconstruct a body part to improve its functionality. Plastic surgery can also involve cosmetic surgery, where the surgeon deems it right to improve your appearance through surgery. Your doctor can recommend cosmetic surgery (under plastic surgery) to cover severe burn scars, congenital deformity scars, and cancerous tumor removal scars.
Other forms of plastic surgery include:
Nature of the Procedure
Cosmetic surgery is always an elective procedure. The treated area is never dysfunctional but might need an aesthetic boost according to the patient's preferences. Even when a plastic surgeon encourages a patient to go through cosmetic surgery, it's purely to help them boost their appearance.
On the other hand, plastic surgery can either be an elective or emergency surgery. A doctor can encourage emergency plastic surgery when patients have life-threatening injuries to their limbs or organs. For instance, you can get plastic surgery to reconstruct a severely injured leg.
A plastic surgeon can also encourage an elective procedure to help improve the appearance of a body part or limb. For instance, if a patient has a mastectomy, the surgeon can encourage them to have a procedure to cover the scar. However, the patient is not under any medical pressure to undergo surgery.
Insurance Cover
Most medical insurance providers cover the cost of plastic surgery. Patients go through emergency plastic surgery procedures to improve their health. They are medically recommended and are necessary to improve a person's well-being.
On the other hand, most health insurance providers do not pay for cosmetic surgery. However, if you can convince the provider that the procedure has health benefits, they might cover the expenses. For instance, breast reduction surgery is a cosmetic procedure. However, some women with large breasts suffer from health problems such as headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and shoulder grooves. Such medical issues are enough to prove that breast reduction surgery directly impacts your health.
For more information on cosmetic body surgery, contact a professional near you.
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