About Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery is a very popular avenue for personal enhancement, as demonstrated by the 11.9 million cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S. alone in 2004.

As for any operation, elective procedures involve risk , and should therefore not be undertaken lightly. Within the US, critics of plastic surgery note that it is legal for any doctor, regardless of speciality, to perform plastic surgery.

It is vital to check a physician's credentials, looking for those MDs who are actually board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Because cosmetic surgery is seen as lucrative, many other specialties have tried to make themselves sound more official and qualified by making up associations or "medical boards", even though their training does not encompass all aspects of reconstructive and cosmetic/aesthetic surgery of plastic surgeons. However, there is only one governing board of American physicians (the American Board of Medical Specialties link), and it only recognizes the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Other "boards" such as "facial plastic surgery" or "American Cosmetic Surgery" are not officially recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. In fact, the term "facial plastic surgery" is particularly deceptive, as it implies there is a "general plastic surgery" field, which of course does not exist. Plastic surgeons who are board-certified or board-eligible by the American Board of Plastic Surgery can of course perform, and often excel in surgery of the face. Just because a non-plastic surgeon claims they have "training" in "facial plastic surgery" does not necessarily mean they can better perform reconstructive and aesthetic procedures of the face.

The most prevalent aesthetic/cosmetic procedures are listed below. Most of these types of surgery are more commonly known by their "common names." These are also listed when pertinent.