What is the difference between Facial Plastic Surgeons and General Plastic Surgeons?

All practicing physicians have the same basic training: a four year undergraduate degree (BS or BA), four years of medical school (MD), and at least one year of residency (sometimes called internship). Then it changes. In the following years either a medical or surgical path is taken. Thus, most dermatologists are not considered surgeons since their medical residency does not include surgical training in invasive procedures, although they are experts in the skin. Two closely aligned surgical specialties are facial plastic surgery and general plastic surgery. Both types of surgeons complete the same undergraduate and medical school degrees, followed by a general surgery internship. General surgery involves the most common of surgical procedures: hernia repairs, appendectomies, gallbladder removals, etc. The internship serves to acquaint the young physician with the basics of surgical technique, patient care, and anatomy; but neither the facial plastic nor general plastic surgeon will co ... more