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Overview

What Does it Mean to Be Wise About Beauty?

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About the Campaign

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery?
Cosmetic surgery is the surgery of appearance. It is elective and focuses on the aesthetics of beauty. Plastic surgery focuses on repairing and reconstructing an area of the body that has a defect or has been damaged. Back to Top

Why is cosmetic surgery commonly equated with plastic surgery if they’re two separate specialties?

The most important thing to remember is that the terms ‘plastic surgery’ and ‘cosmetic surgery’ are not interchangeable. Confusion about the terms has led to public misconceptions about the two specialties. Cosmetic surgery is the “surgery of appearance.” It is elective and focuses on the aesthetics of beauty.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS), through the Be Wise About Beauty campaign, will arm patients with the facts about cosmetic surgery, patient safety and the qualifications of practitioners so that they can make informed decisions about cosmetic enhancement.
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What are the benefits of having a cosmetic surgeon perform cosmetic procedures?
Cosmetic surgeons are dedicated to the art of cosmetic surgery. Their strong knowledge base, high level of training and practical experience make them among the most qualified to perform safe and proper cosmetic procedures. Cosmetic surgeons also offer a unique, multidisciplinary approach to patient care that brings breadth and depth of expertise to the field.Back to Top

What should consumers think about when they are looking for a physician to perform a cosmetic procedure?
The American Medical Association (AMA) recommends that patients choose a health care provider based on his or her training, education, experience and demonstrated practice history. Ultimately, prospective patients need to choose a physician based on the procedure they are having. They should know how often their physician performs the procedure as well as his or her training in that area. Consumers should also speak with individuals who have received patient care from the physicians they are considering and ask to see results before committing to a doctor.Back to Top

What does it mean if a physician is board certified?
Being board certified means that a physician has successfully completed an approved education and training program and a rigorous evaluation process designed to assess the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to provide quality patient care in that specialty. In the case of cosmetic surgery, the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) is the only board that certifies physicians exclusively in the field of cosmetic surgery.Back to Top

Are cosmetic surgeons board certified?
‘Fellow’ members of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) must be board certified by an American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)-approved surgical specialty or the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (the only board that certifies physicians exclusively in the field of cosmetic surgery). It is important to note that residency training alone cannot ensure adequate training in cosmetic surgery. Physicians develop their cosmetic surgical skills through post residency training and experience. Back to Top

What is the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery? And what are the qualifications?
The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) is the only board that certifies physicians exclusively in the field of cosmetic surgery. It is an independent subspecialty board exam that certifies physicians in general, facial and dermatological cosmetic surgery. Eligibility requirements include:

• Being certified in one of several American Board of Medical Specialties(ABMS) Boards or the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Completing an AACS-approved cosmetic surgery fellowship or being in practice a minimum of six years and having performed no fewer than 1,000 cosmetic surgery procedures
• Passing a stringent two-day oral and written examination
• Being of good moral character

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Where can I find out if a doctor has had malpractice suits filed against him/her?
Each state has its own Medical Board that licenses physicians and tracks complaints and disciplinary actions taken against physicians of all disciplines. Most states have online systems to quickly look up doctors by name. Contact your state’s Medical Board or Department of Health to find the correct office. A listing of State Medical Boards may be found at www.fsmb.org under “Board Directory.” Back to Top

What is the recovery time needed after undergoing cosmetic surgery?
Recovery time varies substantially depending on the procedure. Visit bewiseaboutbeauty.org’s “Learn About a Procedure” section for detailed information on a procedure including recovery time for individual procedures. Back to Top

At what age do most people have cosmetic surgery?
According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery’s (AACS) procedural statistics, the average age patients receive cosmetic surgery is 41. Treatments such as breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty (nose job) and dermabrasion are common among younger patients while procedures including blepharoplasty (eyelift), breast lift, facelift and Botox® are more commonly sought by older patients. Back to Top

Where can I participate in a clinical trial? Do doctors do cases for free? Is financing available?
Each physician makes decisions on what patients to accept into research studies and pro bono cases. For a complete listing of federal clinical trials, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov. Please contact the individual physicians nearest you to inquire about fees for services and financing options, as many different options may be available. Back to Top