Plastic surgery has gained tremendous popularity over the past few decades and is becoming very common in today’s era, where people aspire to look perfect. Whether for aesthetic purposes or reconstructive reasons, plastic surgery continues to improve the quality of life for many significantly.
Plastic surgery is a complex topic. This article explores the basics of modern plastic surgery and what you need to know about it.
What Is Plastic Surgery?
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty focused on restoring, altering, or reconstructing the human body. It is divided into two primary categories: cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery.
Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery is all about enhancing the appearance to satisfy a person’s specific expectations or desires. Such processes are generally elective and performed on people who are healthy but want to enhance their physical appearance. Here are some of the most common cosmetic plastic surgery procedures:
Rhinoplasty
Also known as nose surgery or, more colloquially, a nose job, rhinoplasty is among the most common cosmetic procedures. It allows people to reshape their noses to enhance appearance or to improve breathing function. Rhinoplasty can enlarge or decrease the size of the nose, correct asymmetry, and fix issues caused by congenital disabilities or injury.
Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck is a process in which excess skin and fat from the abdomen are removed, along with tightening the underlying muscles, to create a firmer and smoother stomach.
Liposuction
Some people cannot achieve their ideal body weight or size due to localized fat deposits that won’t budge—even with exercise and diet. Liposuction is a body contouring procedure that removes excess fat from areas like the hips, thighs, and abdomen.
Facelift
A facelift is a procedure that involves the tightening of the skin on the neck and face, thereby reducing sagging and the appearance of wrinkles. Older adults who want to look younger or reverse the effects of aging often opt for this procedure.
Breast Augmentation
By using implants or fat transfer, breast augmentation can increase the size of the breasts or change the shape of it. Women who want their breasts to appear fuller or restore volume following pregnancy or weight loss choose this procedure.
Reconstructive Surgery
Reconstructive surgery helps revitalize a person’s appearance and the function of a body part after illness, injury, or congenital abnormalities. It is a life-changing procedure that allows patients to regain their ability to carry out their daily tasks after traumatic conditions such as burns, breast cancer, and accidents.
Here are some common reconstructive plastic surgery procedures:
- Breast reconstruction surgery to restore the appearance of breasts in women after a mastectomy.
- Cleft lip or palate repair is done to repair the gap in the lip and palate and restore appearance and function.
- Burn reconstruction for patients who have suffered from severe burns to help mobility, minimize scarring, and improve appearance.
- Microsurgery involves using a microscope to repair small nerves, blood vessels, and tissues after traumatic injuries or cancer. It is also used to reconstruct sensitive areas of the body, such as the hands and face, and reattach severed limbs.
Hand Surgery
This type of plastic surgery repairs injuries and diseases that specifically affect the hands. It can address hand abnormalities, traumatic hand injuries, and conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis.
Besides the above-mentioned plastic surgery procedures, there are several others, too, such as hair restoration for people who suffer from baldness or hair loss and skin cancer reconstruction for patients who have had their skin cancer removed.
Benefits of Plastic Surgery
One of the most significant benefits of plastic surgery is that it can restore the functionality of a body part after an illness or injury. Not only does this repair physical appearance, but it can also enhance emotional and mental well-being. By refining aesthetic appearance, many people find their self-confidence rising, too!
It’s not just the superficial benefits, though; plastic surgery can address physical issues that can contribute to health problems and general discomfort. For example, rhinoplasty can improve breathing, and breast reduction surgery can reduce back pain that is caused by large breasts.
Risks Associated With Plastic Surgery
As with any surgical procedure, many complications could potentially arise. These include bleeding, infection, anesthesia complications, and scarring. However, the results may not always be satisfying, and additional corrective surgery may sometimes be required.
How To Choose The Best Plastic Surgeon?
If you are considering getting plastic surgery done, it’s imperative to have a thorough understanding of the risks involved in the process, in addition to realistic expectations about the results. Make sure you choose a well-qualified plastic surgeon licensed by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or any other certification body. Opt for a well-experienced surgeon specializing in the specific surgery you need. Simultaneously, you can schedule a consultation to discuss details about the procedure and utilize this opportunity to share your goals and concerns. You can also request before-and-after photos of patients who have undergone similar procedures so you know how it would turn out.
