Words can be used incorrectly by so many people so often that they become accepted for their incorrect usage. Most people use the term plastic and cosmetic interchangeably when referring to cosmetic or aesthetic surgery.
The word plastic is actually derived from the Greek and Latin roots, meaning to mold, shape or to form. Indeed, plastic surgical techniques have been around long before man developed petroleum based products commonly known as plastics. Even so, many people assume plastic surgery is so named because it employs the use of "plastic" materials.
Plastic surgery is the field of surgery devoted to the reshaping or restructuring of various body parts in order to improve or restore appearance or function. Actually, many surgical fields involve plastic surgery as parts of their discipline. It's not unusual that there is a lot of overlap among surgical specialties and plastic surgery.
When plastic surgical techniques are employed to enhance or improve appearance this is referred to as cosmetic (or aesthetic) surgery. On the other hand, reconstructive surgery is generally concerned with putting parts back together or restoring function. And indeed, these two areas frequently overlap. For example, in performing a cosmetic rhinoplasty, if there is airway obstruction, then reconstructive surgery is also performed to improve the airway, i.e., the function.
Somehow over the years, perhaps because of the public's fascination with various cosmetic procedures and because most of these procedures were most often done by plastic surgeons, the words cosmetic and plastic have been used almost interchangeably. Even plastic surgeons and plastic surgical societies have improperly used the word. If one realizes, then, that through plastic surgical techniques you perform reconstructive and/or cosme
tic procedures, it is clearly redundant to refer to oneself as a "Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon." Clearly, this is an illogical use of the words. It would make more sense to say "Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery," "Plastic Surgery", or as in my case, simply "Cosmetic Surgery".
Although some of the procedures I do are reconstructive in nature, I use my plastic surgical skills primarily to effect cosmetic improvements. Today, there are several surgical disciplines that perform cosmetic procedures besides plastic surgeons. Otolaryngologists are trained in facial cosmetic surgery. Ophthalmologists can perform cosmetic eyelid surgery. Dermatologists are performing cosmetic laser surgery, liposuction, and hair restoration. Maxillo-Facial surgeons perform cosmetic procedures to enhance their reconstructive work. Many other surgical disciplines can perform various cosmetic procedures. Indeed, the specialty of Cosmetic Surgery has grown as a marriage of the aesthetic interests of the different surgical disciplines.
