Overview of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery is a multifaceted specialty that combines form, function, technique and principle. Plastic surgery may encompass any area of the body not only the skin. While the details of various procedures are important, the basic principles allow plastic surgeon to solve unusual problems and to apply known procedures to any body parts. This broad principle can be applied to simple scar revision or to complex breast reconstruction.

Plastic Surgery is the only field in medicine in which art and science combine. For the aesthetic or cosmetic plastic surgeon, perhaps the predominant factor is the art. Cosmetic Plastic is the aspect of surgery in which concentration and interest are focused on the restoration and improvement of forms as well as function. The problems that plastic surgeon encounter may result from aging, congenital defect, trauma and prior surgical procedure that have a profound effect on human emotion or psychological structure. Aesthetic plastic surgery, though admittedly done on occasion to rehabilitate a particular part of the body, is mainly performed to rehabilitate the entire person. It stands that improvement in a person's appearance, also improves a person’s self-image and this in turn, provides a feeling of emotional and physical well- being.

It takes a minimum of 6 years of formal training in burns, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery at an accredited institution after medical school, before a physician could call himself a Plastic Surgeon. This would include 3 to 5 years of General Surgery Program and 3 years of Burns, Cosmetic/Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Training. In the Philippines, there are only a handful of Medical Institutions that offer an accredited training program and recognized by the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS), Philippine Board of Plastic Surgery (PBPS) and Philippine Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (PAPRAS). And this Accredited Training Institutions includes the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), University of Sto.Tomas (UST), ) University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center (comprising CONSORTIUM I), Far Eastern University, St. Lukes Medical Center, Lourdes Hospital and Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center (comprising CONSORTIUM II).

In the Philippines, the Philippine Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons or PAPRAS is recognized by the Philippine Collage of Surgeon and Philippine Medical Association to monitor and regulate the practice of Cosmetic Surgery. However, because of the increasing demand or interest in Cosmetic Surgery there are a lot of people that perform cosmetic surgery procedures without adequate cosmetic or plastic surgery training. This is why patients are advice to ask around and be properly and thoroughly informed regarding the procedures they desire, whether it be cosmetic or reconstructive in nature.