Training in Cosmetic SurgeryThere is no such thing as a specialist in cosmetic surgery (“Facharzt für Kosmetische Chirurgie”). Medical training is aimed at the cure of diseases and ailments and has always been focused on the conveyance of medical knowledge and skills needed for healing. Therefore physicians of all specialities have to acquire the skills needed for cosmetic surgery in a dedicated additional training. Specialists in plastic and reconstructive surgery, a speciality that is only 20 years old, are today trying to present themselves as the sole experts in cosmetic surgery. They do this by lobbying and through campaigns in the media. This means distributing false information out of economic interest. Plastic surgeons, just like other physicians, do not receive training in cosmetic surgery during their time in hospital. Therefore they are by no means better suited to perform cosmetic surgery than any other doctor. The opposite is true. As a result of their training in reconstructive surgery they are somewhat inclined to perform more aggressive surgery mostly under general anaesthesia, which may result in higher complication rates and less natural looking cosmetic outcome. Statistics of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery from the 1990s have shown among physicians from all specialities the highest rates of complications and following lawsuits for plastic surgeons. Limiting cosmetic surgery to certain medical specialties would proof unfavourable for the patient. Cosmetic surgery is interdisciplinary and has been brought forward by physicians of all specialities. What counts is dedicated training and experience. When choosing a doctor you are recommended to ask what training and further education he or she has undergone and how many times he or she has performed the one particular surgery you are interest in. Let him proof it! Before and after photos may give an impression of the surgeon’s aesthetic skills. You should also be aware that new methods become popular very slowly with doctors thinking within the narrow limits of their speciality. This is different for physicians who have undergone an interdisciplinary training and have learned to think not only in surgical but also in internistic and endocrinologic terms. Make sure, that the cosmetic surgeon of your choice is a specialist in general medicine (“Facharzt für Allgemeinmedizin”). With him you’ll be in better hands than with a plastic surgeon who will most likely recommend silicon, scalpel, and general anaesthesia. Also the membership in renowned societies of cosmetic surgery (like AACS) counts. It is of no importance whether the physician has undergone training in any speciality apart from general medicine plus additional training in cosmetic surgery and anti-aging medicine or not. Further information is available on www.bewiseaboutbeauty.org.
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