Cosmetic Surgery - Who's Working On You?

When a patient decides to undergo cosmetic surgery, he or she wants to make certain that they have the best man or woman for the job of holding the scalpel.

Cosmetic surgery is a complex specialty. Patients want to know who is performing it.

Ever wondered how an average person evolved into a plastic surgeon? Here’s a bit of information about the training, education and skill set of this cosmetic wizard.

Aesthetic Eye

Not every doctor is cut out to practice in this subcategory of medicine. Along with high intelligence, scientific knowledge and precision, this specialist must also have a talent for aesthetics. Aesthetics pertains to how things look. Possessing an innate ability to note harmony, proportion and beauty will help make this doctor a great one. Along with being a scientist, this practitioner must be an artist, as well.

Undergraduate Work

Before even applying to medical school, a potential doc must complete four years of college and obtain extremely high grades. He or she will study anatomy, biology, physiology, chemistry, mathematics, communication, psychology and more. Admission into med school is highly competitive so only the cream-of-the-crop with the highest grades will be allowed in.

Entry Examinations and Interviews

Along with stellar grade point averages, potential candidates must pass an entry exam and be interviewed by the faculty members and administration of medical universities.

After Admission

After being admitted into med school, this cosmetic surgery doc-in-training will complete another four years of education. This will include academic book learning, classroom time, laboratory research and hands-on experience such as dissecting cadavers. The first two years is focused on classroom study; the second two years is more geared toward hands-on work.

Specialization

After completing the basic rigorous university requirements, a cosmetic surgeon will spend additional time learning his specialties within the plastic surgery arena. Some possible specialty focuses include facial lifts and rejuvenation, reconstructive techniques, body makeover surgeries and more. A doctor may study more than one area of concentration.

Internship and Residency

Following the formal academic training, a doctor will be placed in a medical facility in order to learn the ropes under the tutelage of seasoned professionals in the field.

M.D. or D.O.

A fully trained practitioner will typically have an M.D. or a D.O. after their name, which stands for medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy. He or she may also receive certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In order to receive this designation, a professional has to meet strict standards in examinations and practice.

When men or women choose to have cosmetic surgery performed in order to enhance or reconstruct their appearances, they can rest assured. A plastic surgeon who has received an M.D. or D.O. after their name, as well as being board certified in this specialization, is a highly educated and well trained individual. Making certain that the doc also has a talent and artistic capability is also very important. Viewing “before and after” photos of a particular specialist’s patients is one way to find out. These photographs will be an eye opening look into the physician’s aesthetic ability.

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