All plastic surgeons are trained in cosmetic surgery but not all "cosmetic surgeons" are plastic surgeons. In fact, many "cosmetic surgeons" are actually not surgeons at all (never completed a surgical residency). Many "cosmetic surgeons" or "cosmetic practitioners" had their core training in medical specialties such as emergency medicine, anesthesiology, family practice, radiology or dermatology. If you are confused (and many are) don’t hesitate to ask your plastic surgeon to sit down and explain the difference. A genuine plastic surgeon will never shy away from explaining the difference or clarify his/her training.