What is Cosmetic Surgery?

When faced with the decision to alter some aspect of their appearance, many people may ask themselves, “What is cosmetic surgery, and how is it different from plastic surgery?” In reality, not all plastic surgery is considered cosmetic surgery. The plastic in plastic surgery does not actually mean what it implies, but rather its meaning derives from the Greek plastike, “the art of modeling” or sculpting the flesh. While plastic surgery involves fixing parts of the body through reconstruction to improve function, cosmetic surgery alters parts of the body for mostly aesthetic purposes. The board-certified plastic surgeons at Boulder Plastic Surgery perform plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures to restore function and modify aspects of your appearance for better visual appeal.

The Difference in Technique

At Boulder Plastic Surgery, we perform reconstructive plastic surgery procedures such as:

• Breast reconstruction after breast cancer
• Ear resculpting
• Rhinoplasty

Plastic surgery procedures that would fall into the cosmetic surgery category would be those that involve traditional surgical methods (cutting and anesthesia) to simply alter your appearance rather than rectify any abnormality or limited functioning capacity:

• Breast implants
• Face/eyelid/eyebrow lift
• Tummy tuck
• Liposuction
• Facial implants

Some of the cosmetic surgery we perform is not even considered surgery in the strictest sense, since it doesn’t involve any cutting, but rather the use of needles or lasers. These non- or minimally invasive cosmetic procedures include:

• Botox
• Injectable facial fillers
• Laser skin resurfacing, scar removal, hair removal, and vein treatments

Find Out What Kind of Cosmetic Surgery is Right for You

No matter what kind of plastic or cosmetic surgery you think would help enhance your appearance, the doctors at Boulder Plastic Surgery can work with you to achieve the results you desire. We assess your physical needs and desired outcome to create an individualized surgical plan that works for you. Visit Boulder Plastic Surgery today for a consultation and see what cosmetic surgery means for you.