As defined by the American Medical Association (AMA) in 1989, “Cosmetic surgery is performed to reshape normal structures of the body in order to improve the patient’s appearance and self-esteem.” Cosmetic or aesthetic surgery includes various rejuvenating procedures to treat structures of the face (e.g., facelift for age-related changes, rhinoplasty for a large nose, blepharoplasty for excess eyelid skin), as well as other parts of the body including but not limited to the breast (e.g., breast augmentation) and abdomen (e.g., abdominoplasty following pregnancy). The field also includes the use of various injectables, such as fillers and neurotoxins, to address asymmetries and age-related changes. Trainees are able to pursue further fellowship training in the field if they so desire.
