Every year more and more people are turning to plastic surgery to improve their appearance and fulfill their aesthetic desires. Proof of this growing popularity is evident in recent statistics by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS); nearly 1.6 million cosmetic surgical procedures were performed in 2011, which was a two percent increase from the previous year.

If you are on a quest to find a qualified doctor to perform your cosmetic procedure of choice, it is important to note the difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon. Most people think they understand what plastic surgery means, but because there are a lot of specialized fields included under the umbrella of plastic surgery, it can get confusing for some individuals.

Cosmetic surgery refers to aesthetic enhancements that are elected by the individual. Finding a doctor with plastic surgery board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) means that he or she has received extensive, legit cosmetic surgery training. Any doctor can call him or herself a cosmetic surgeon, but is only able to perform a limited number of procedures. For instance, a board certified ophthalmologist may have some knowledge of cosmetic enhancement surgery, but it’s limited to their area of specialization such as the eyes and eyelid surgery. An ophthalmologist wouldn’t be the person to see for breast augmentation or a tummy tuck.

Before you choose the doctor to perform your surgical procedure, you may want to research that surgeon’s background and specialty. At the New York City practice of Dr. Taranow, you may anticipate a safe, rewarding experience. He has received extensive training in the field of plastic surgery, and is skilled in a vast range of surgical as well as non-surgical procedures.