Dr. Jacob Haiavy Publishes Paper on History of Cosmetic Surgery and Why Fellowship Training Is Vital to the Specialty

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., July 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Board certified cosmetic surgeon and Medical Director of Inland Cosmetic Surgery Dr. Jacob Haiavy recently published a paper on the history of cosmetic surgery and cosmetic surgery training in The Journal of Cosmetic Surgery. The paper, titled "Cosmetic Surgery History of the Specialty: The Importance of AACS Fellowships and the Webster Legacy," appears in the February 2018 edition and can be accessed on Sage Journals.

Dr. Haiavy's paper traces the history of cosmetic surgery through the 20th century, when advancements in medicine allowed cosmetic surgery to be performed safely and effectively for the first time. "Cosmetic surgery pioneers in the late 1800s and early 1900s were otolaryngologists, orthopedic surgeons, and neurosurgeons, among others. The cosmetic surgery specialty developed out of these and other branches of medicine, and remains multidisciplinary in nature to this day," states Dr. Haiavy. He aims to dispel ideas that cosmetic surgery is simply a subset of plastic surgery. "Plastic surgery only emerged as a distinct specialty after World War I and was limited almost exclusively to reconstructive surgery. For several decades, plastic surgeons distanced themselves from cosmetic procedures, and physicians who showed a primary interest in cosmetic surgery were excluded from plastic surgery societies."

He explains that while plastic surgeons tended toward exclusivity, cosmetic surgery specialists such as Dr. Richard C. Webster, the "founding father" of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, favored a collaborative culture that respected the specialty's multidisciplinary nature.

Fellowship training is vital to ensure the highest standard of cosmetic surgery care

Understanding cosmetic surgery's historical context, Dr. Haiavy advocates for the current fellowship-based training model for board certified cosmetic surgeons. Currently, there are no residency programs dedicated to cosmetic surgery in the United States, as the majority of funding for residencies comes from Medicare, which excludes elective procedures. Fellowship programs approved and accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) allow qualified surgeons who have first completed residency training in a related specialty to train full-time in cosmetic breast, body, facial and non-surgical procedures in an established practice setting.

Dr. Haiavy says that AACS fellowships offer a superior cosmetic surgery education, allowing aspiring cosmetic surgeons to develop extensive skills and gain necessary experience in cosmetic medicine. Ultimately, this training leads to better patient outcomes:

"By allowing surgeons to focus 100% on all aspects of cosmetic medicine while collaborating with leaders in the field, fellowship-trained cosmetic surgeons are better prepared to offer the exemplary cosmetic surgery care patients deserve."

Completing a 12-month AACS fellowship training program is required for certification by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. Currently, there are 25 general cosmetic surgery fellowships and two facial cosmetic surgery fellowships throughout the U.S.

Dr. Haiavy concludes by encouraging experienced board certified cosmetic surgeons to serve as Fellowship Directors. "Patients need access to the highest quality care—and when it comes to cosmetic medicine, that means a fellowship-trained board certified cosmetic surgeon. I invite my esteemed colleagues to join me in creating more fellowships around the country. Together, we can produce highly trained cosmetic surgeons who are worthy of American Board of Cosmetic Surgery certification and will stand with us as leaders in the field."

About Inland Cosmetic Surgery: Inland Cosmetic Surgery offers comprehensive cosmetic surgery and aesthetic services to patients in Rancho Cucamonga and surrounding areas in Southern California. As Medical Director of Inland Cosmetic Surgery and Ahava Medical Spa, Dr. Haiavy has performed over 10,000 cosmetic surgery procedures and is known for his caring approach and superb results. Visit www.inlandcosmetic.com for more information about Inland Cosmetic Surgery.

Media Contact: Dr. Jacob Haiavy, (909) 939-6626

SOURCE Inland Cosmetic Surgery