Looking for Plastic Surgery in Chicago?
Wondering which Plastic Surgeon You Should Choose? ... Read On:
Dr. Anh-Tuan N. Truong is one of the top cosmetic surgeons in Chicago, IL board-certified by an American Board of Medical Specialties Board (ABMS). He is double board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, and he was also voted one of America’s “Top Cosmetic Surgeons” by the Consumer’s Research Council of America.
People from all over the country come to Chicago to see this uniquely skilled surgeon. On top of his specialization in plastic surgery procedures, he has won awards for his research in skin regeneration and artificial skin, making him unusually adept at knowing how the skin will react to a cosmetic procedure. This keen attention to detail enables him to deliver results that his patients love!
Chicago Plastic Surgeons vs. Chicago Cosmetic Surgeons: What's the Difference?
If you’ve been searching for “plastic surgery Chicago”, you’ve probably seen the terms plastic surgeon and cosmetic surgeon everywhere you’ve looked. If you’re like most people, you probably thought they were interchangeable words for the same type of surgeon.
It’s true that the terms are used interchangeably, especially by Chicago plastic surgeons who choose to focus their practices on cosmetic surgery.
Due to falling reimbursements, there are also many doctors and non-surgeons in unrelated fields claiming to be cosmetic surgeons.
This can be misleading and has led to some confusion in public perception. Even doctors in other medical fields can’t distinguish the difference. This is due to the fact that there are many conflicting descriptions in the media and by surgeons themselves with respect to the two.
Cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery both deal with surgical alteration of the human body. The fields are therefore closely related, but not the same
1. Chicago Cosmetic Surgery & Chicago Plastic Surgery Differ in Their Objectives.
While both cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery deal with alteration to the human body, the ultimate goals may differ and thus the guiding principles with regard to training, research, and emphasis of procedures may differ.
Chicago Cosmetic Surgery: Focused on Enhancing Appearance Aesthetically
The procedures, techniques, and principles of cosmetic surgery are entirely focused on enhancing a patient’s appearance. Improving aesthetic appeal, symmetry, and proportion are the key goals.
Cosmetic surgery can be performed on all areas of the head, neck, and body. Because the treated areas function properly, cosmetic surgery is elective. Cosmetic surgery is practiced by doctors from a variety of medical fields, including some plastic surgeons.
Examples of cosmetic surgery procedures include:
- Facelift
- Rhinoplasty
- Blepharoplasty
- Breast Augmentation
- Tummy Tuck
- Liposuction
- Fat Transfers
Chicago Plastic Surgery on the other hand is defined as a surgical specialty dedicated to reconstruction of facial and body defects due to birth disorders, trauma, burns, and disease. Plastic surgery is reconstructive in nature as it is primarily concerned with restoring function, while maximizing form is of secondary concern.
Although many of the surgical principles in regard to maximizing aesthetic appearance of the final result are the same, plastic surgery’s primary objective is to restore the underlying function of the body part whether it be mobility, bodily function, or protective tissue coverage.
In 1999, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons changed its name to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to more strongly communicate the message that “plastic and reconstructive surgeons are one and the same.”¹
Some examples of plastic surgery procedures:
- Breast reconstruction after mastectomy
- cleft-lip repair
- hand surgery and finger re-plantations
- scar revisions
- scar and skin graft surgery for burns
- skin flaps for tissue defects.