the History of Plastic Surgery
Plastic Surgery, as a specialty, came into existence following World War I when it became known that specially trained surgeons were needed to treat the complex wounds of war. The word “plastic” originates from the Greek word “plastikos” meaning to mold or change or alter. Plastic Surgery is its own specialty and is one of only 24 surgical specialties recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) (www.abms.org). The training of a plastic surgeon is quite extensive and includes expertise in cosmetic surgery, reconstructive surgery, burn surgery, craniofacial surgery and hand surgery. Plastic Surgeons are fully trained to perform procedures on all parts of the body and are not restricted to only one region. Only board certified Plastic Surgeons may display the concentric ring logo shown below.
The misleading term of “Facial Plastic Surgeon” was created by non-plastic surgeons, to denote their restriction to operating only above the neck.
In 1931 the American Society of Plastic Surgery, (ASPS) (www.plasticsurgery.org) was formed. This is the largest society of trained plastic surgeons in the world. When looking for the right plastic surgeon for your surgery, membership within the ASPS assures that your plastic surgeon is fully trained and meets both the ethical and educational standards to be a member.
Because the Field of Plastic Surgery is so diverse, an association within the specialty of Plastic Surgery was formed to signify a special interest and dedication of that surgeon to the field of cosmetic surgery. The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) (www.surgery.org) . The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons is comprised of only Board Certified Plastic Surgeons, with special interest in cosmetic surgery. The logo of the ASAPS is displayed below.
Many non-recognized and self appointed Boards and Societies have emerged over the last several years giving some doctors very false and misleading qualifications and making it very confusing for prospective patients.
There is no recognized Board of Cosmetic Surgery, so a physician claiming to have these qualifications may have very different training, level of expertise, and ethics. In the Sacramento area alone we have physicians trained in ENT, Family Practice, OB-GYN, Pediatrics, Radiology, Oral Surgery and Emergency Medicine all claiming to be cosmetic surgeons. Please beware!
