Why is your Specialty Called Plastic Surgery?

The name of our specialty was derived from the Greek word “plastikos”, which means capable of being molded or shaped. Plastic Surgery, by definition, is surgery to repair, restore, or improve lost, injured, aged, defective, or misshapen body parts. What the layperson usually perceives as plastic surgery is usually related to cosmetic surgery. This is an integral part of the Plastic Surgery specialty, and some plastic surgeons specialize in cosmetic surgery, but other may specialize in other branches of the specialty such as taking care of birth defects, reconstructing body parts or repairing large holes resulting from cancer surgery or trauma, taking care of burn victims or doing hand surgery! It is true that implants are used for breasts, chins and other body parts, but most plastic surgical procedures rely on a reshaping or repositioning of your own tissues to achieve the desired result.

By definition, a plastic surgeon is one who does plastic surgery. But much confusion exists today because many physicians who call themselves plastic surgeons have not been trained in plastic surgery residencies, and indeed, some are not even surgeons! The American Board of Plastic Surgery is the only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties to certify a surgeon in plastic and reconstructive surgery of the face and entire body. Many doctors doing “plastic surgery” are indeed Board Certified but in specialties such as Otolaryngology (Ears Nose and Throat) or in Internal Medical specialties such as Dermatology. Because they do not have the training to be called Board Certified Plastic Surgeons, many have joined “Boards” such as the Cosmetic Surgery Board, which are not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialists. Becoming a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon requires prerequisite training, a recognized plastic surgery residency, and successfully passing the rigorous examinations presented by the Board. In my own situation, I did a complete general surgery residency (with board certification in general surgery) at Columbia University in New York, followed by a plastic surgery residency at Harvard University in Massachusetts, board certification in plastic surgery, and thereafter accepted a full time teaching position at the University of California, San Francisco, before venturing into private practice. Most people who drive a Mercedes do not take their vehicle to a Toyota mechanic for service. Likewise, if you are considering Plastic Surgery, we would suggest that you make sure the surgeon you are considering is indeed a plastic surgeon!

If you are considering seeing a particular surgeon, you can always check the American Board of Plastic Surgery web site to see if your surgeon is Board Certified in Plastic Surgery – go ahead and give it a try and you’ll be amazed at how many doctors who represent themselves as plastic surgeons are indeed not plastic surgeons (https://www.abplasticsurgery.org/public/verify-certification/VerifyCert?section=SurgeonSearch)! 

Here in California, we do aesthetic surgery at Orange County Plastic Surgery but we do an occasional reconstruction for a mastectomy defect, removal of a skin cancer or repair a defect resulting from a skin cancer resection. Since starting my aesthetic practice, I have also operated for years in Guatemala and elsewhere doing pro bono volunteer work. Here are examples of the two extremes.

(Actual patient of Dr. Bunkis) Guatemalan patient in her early 30’s with a cleft lip, before and after repair.

(Actual patient of Dr. Bunkis) 52-year-old female, before and after a face and brow lift, blepharoplasty and chin implantation.

The Board Certified plastic surgeons of Orange County Plastic Surgery, Dr. John Compoginis, Dr. Deborah Ekstrom and Dr. Juris Bunkis

In recent years, there has indeed been a shift in beauty standards towards a fuller buttocks compared to 20 years ago. This trend can be attributed to various factors including the rise of social media influencers, celebrities flaunting curvier figures, and the influence of certain cultural icons. With this shift, many individuals are seeking ways to enhance their buttocks to achieve a more rounded and shapely appearance.

Options for enhancing the buttocks include both surgical and non-surgical methods. Non-surgical options typically involve procedures such the use of dermal fillers to add volume to the buttocks. These methods are less invasive but may require multiple sessions and a very high expense for the fillers in order to obtain noticeable results. Usually it become much more expensive to achieve any improvement with such fillers compared to the surgical options.

On the other hand, surgical options for buttock enhancement include Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) and buttock implants. A BBL involves fat transfer from other areas of the body to the buttocks, resulting in a fuller buttocks without the use of man-made implants. This procedure is ideal for candidates who have excess fat in areas such as the abdomen, thighs, or hips, and desire both slimmer contours in those areas and enhanced buttock volume.

Buttock implants, on the other hand, involve surgically placing silicone implants into the buttocks to increase volume and projection. This option is suitable for individuals who lack sufficient fat for a BBL or desire a more dramatic augmentation. However, it is important to note that buttock implants carry a higher risk of complications such as implant shifting or infection compared to fat transfer procedures. Unlike breast implants, buttocks implants are made of a soft solid silicone and do not wear out or need to be repalced in the future.

Ultimately, the choice between a BBL and buttock implants depends on individual goals, body type, and aesthetic preferences. Consulting with a qualified, board certified plastic surgeon is essential to determine the most suitable option based on one’s anatomy and desired outcome.

This female in her 40’s wished buttocks enhancement but did not have sufficient fat anywhere to allow her to be a candidate for fat grafting. She is shown here before and after gluteal buttocks implant surgery. (Actual patient of Drs. Ekstrom & Bunkis)

This female in her 30’s had sufficient donor sites to consider a BBL. She is shown here before and after a liposuction procedure and microfat grafting to the buttocks (Actual patient of Dr. Deborah Ekstrom).

This very thin female in her early 60’s wished a more dramatic buttocks enhancement and absolutely did not have sufficienet fat reserves to consider microfat grafting. She is shown here before and after buttocks augmentation with silicone implants (Actual patient of Dr. Juris Bunkis)

For CA, please call 949-888-9700 or visit www.orangecountyplasticsurgery.com
Or for MA location, call 508-755-4825 or visit www.salisburyps.com

You can write to
Dr. John Compoginis at Contact Us Form
Dr. Staci Compoginis at Contact Us Form
Dr. Deborah Ekstrom at Contact Us Form
or Dr. Juris Bunkis at Contact Us Form