[Commentary on the article of P. S. Harenberg and D. Erdmann: academic plastic surgery: a comparison of residency models in Germany and the USA].

The postgraduate training in plastic surgery in Germany has to be considered as young. A direct comparison of the postgraduate training in Germany with that of the United States of America is possible on an equal basis, as the quality of postgraduate training has a high standard in both countries. Nevertheless, further corrections are necessary. In the end only competent and well qualified board certified plastic surgeons are in the position to represent this specific field of surgery on a skilled and a political basis.