Advances In Plastic Surgery  By Dr. Robert Peterson Interviewed
by Melissa Moniz Wednesday - January 23, 2008 | Share  Dr.
Robert Peterson Dr. Robert Peterson  Dr. Robert Peterson Chief
of Plastic Surgery at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and
Children Interviewed by Melissa Moniz  Can you discuss the
differences between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery?
Plastic surgery is a field of specialization within medicine.
There are training programs that are sent up by the medical
schools around the country in plastic surgery. It is a specific
curriculum which includes cosmetic surgery, reconstructive
surgery, burns, hand surgery, etc. The term plastic comes from
the Greek word plastikos which means to mold or form. It
involves changing the form. Cosmetic surgery is a non-specific
term. There are no medical school cosmetic surgery programs, and
cosmetic surgery does not require the degree of rigorous
surgical training and medical school oversight that plastic
surgery does.  How long have you been a plastic s