Eli5 What is the difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon? Is one more qualified than the other?

Question

Eli5 What is the difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon? Is one more qualified than the other?

In: 14

Answer 1

Cosmetic surgeons are phoney. The cosmetic part is not a protected term, only the surgeon part, so anyone who has completed medical school can call themself a cosmetic surgeon regalrdess of training in the reconstruction field. Conversely, a plastic surgeon is heavily protected and for a doctor to have the title, they must complete medical school, followed by 5+ years of specialty training to become a plastic surgeon attending