Often when someone hears the term plastic surgery, he thinks of elective cosmetic procedures and view the surgery as a personal decision that deals primary with vanity. While some plastic surgery is cosmetic and elective, a variety of procedures are functional and corrective.
What is it?
Medicinenet.com, an online medical dictionary, defines plastic surgery as “The field of surgery concerned with reducing scarring or disfigurement that may occur as a result of accidents, birth defects, or treatment for diseases, such as melanoma.” There are two main fields: body modification and reconstructive surgery, which can involve skin grafting. Skin grafts can be further divided into three categories:
- Autografts: the skin used in the grafting process is taken from the recipient
- Allografts: the skin used in the grafting process is taken from a donor of the same species
- Xenograft: the skin used in the grafting process is taken from a donor of a different species
Reconstructive surgery is performed to correct functional impairments. These may have been caused by trauma, burning, developmental or congenital abnormalities, infection, disease, or cancer.
Cosmetic surgery is an aesthetic process intended to enhance a person’s appearance. Most cases of cosmetic surgery are elective and not covered by insurance. Usually reconstructive surgery and skin grafting are covered by insurance.
The term plastic surgery comes from the Greek word “plastikos,” meaning to mold or to shape. Different forms of plastic surgery have existed since around 2,000 BC where basic procedures were being performed in India.
Who needs it?
Plastic surgery is recommended for those who want to alter their appearance. If someone has experienced low self-esteem due to his appearance, he may elect to change the feature that caused them embarrassment. If someone feels self-conscious because of the size or shape of a facial feature, or the size or shape of his chest, his self-esteem may benefit from a physical alteration.
Breast augmentation is also recommended for women who have undergone cancer treatments. Surgery can be performed to correct a misshapen breast. In extreme cases where a mastectomy has been performed, as surgeon may be able to replace the effected breast.
Those who have suffered physical trauma as the result of an accident may benefit from plastic surgery. In cases where the skin has been torn in an accident, a plastic surgeon may be required to suture the injury. Often, trained plastic surgeons have the ability to perform the procedure in a way that lessens scarring as the wound heals.
Finally, those born with, or who have developed, physical abnormalities may benefit from plastic surgery. If a cyst, tumor, or other medical condition has caused a part of your body to be misshapen, plastic surgery maybe able to correct the problem.
Benefits
The major benefit of plastic surgery is that it changes, and in most cases improves, a person’s appearance. A person who has undergone a corrective procedure may find he is more comfortable with his appearance, which can lead to increased self-esteem.
In other cases, plastic surgery is done for functional reasons. A person may find their procedure has corrected a functional impairment. For instance, rhinoplasty, often performed to correct the appearance of the nose, may also be used to correct breathing problems. Anyone who has suffered from severe sinus problems may find that changing the shape of the nose through plastic surgery helps they breathe better. Those who have experienced breathing problems can attest to the fact having the ability to breathe without effort or stress can change your health and your life.
Other medical problems may be solved by plastic surgery operations. Among them is incontinence. In some cases, exercise is not enough to improve function, and a person may require genital surgery to remove the embarrassing problem of incontinence.
Risks
Like any surgical procedure, a variety of risks are involved with plastic surgery, but some are specific to plastic surgery. In the case of cosmetic surgery, you may find yourself unhappy with the results. Plastic surgeons often warn potential clients not to expect life-changing results. Often, people imagine their lives will be perfect following a cosmetic procedure. Even if they are happy with the results, it may have less of an effect on their life than they are expecting. In some rare cases, a person may find the results less appealing than their previous appearance.
In some cases, there are specific problems that occur following the surgery. In the case of breast augmentation, some women have experienced complications with their implants. There are rare instances of botched surgery that has led to scarring or misshapen breasts.
In rare instances, a person may find he has developed a psychological disorder affiliated with plastic surgery. Body dysmorphic disorder may lead a person to feel as if he is addicted to body alteration. Seeking their idea of the perfect body, they may schedule repeated surgical procedures, striving to attain an unattainable body. While this condition is affiliated with plastic surgery, it is in no way caused by it.
Plastic surgery is a valuable procedure that can alter a person’s body and change his quality of life. If you are considering a plastic surgery procedure, speak to a qualified professional, determine your goals, and decide together which treatment will best suit your needs and desires.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
