PLASTIC SURGERY AS A
MEDICAL SPECIALITY
Plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgery is
a medical specialty that uses a number of surgical and nonsurgical techniques
to alter the appearance and function of a person’s body. Plastic reconstructive
and aesthetic surgery procedures consist of both cosmetic enhancements as well
as functionally reconstructive operations. In the former case, where aesthetics
are considered more important than functionality, plastic surgery is sometimes
called as aesthetic or cosmetic
surgery. Most plastic surgery procedures involve both aesthetic and
functional elements. The word "plastic" derives from the Greek word plastikos
meaning to mold or to shape. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons typically mold
and reshape the following tissues of the body: skin, fat, muscle, cartilage,
and bone. Common techniques used in plastic and reconstructive surgery include:
incision, excision, microsurgery, chemosurgery, laser surgery, dermabrasion,
electrosurgery, and liposuction.
Reconstructive
plastic surgery is carried out to correct functional impairments caused by:
burns, traumatic injuries (such as facial bone fractures), congenital
abnormalities (such as cleft lip, or cleft palate), developmental
abnormalities, infection or disease, and removal of cancers or tumors (such as
a mastectomy). Reconstructive plastic surgery is usually performed to
ameliorate function, but it may be done to approximate a normal appearance. It
is generally covered by insurance coverage but this may differ according to the
procedure required.
Common
reconstructive plastic surgical procedures are: breast reconstruction for women
who have had a mastectomy, cleft lip and palate surgery, contracture surgery
for burn victims; creating a new outer ear when one is congenitally absent
(anotia/microtia), and repairing skin and mucosa defects after removal of
tumors in the head and neck region.
Plastic and reconstructive surgeons developed
the use of microsurgery to transfer tissue for coverage of a defect when no
local tissue is available. Tissue flaps made up of skin, muscle, bone, fat or a
combination, may be harvested from the body, moved to another site on the body
and reconnected to a blood supply by suturing arteries and veins as small as
1-2 mm in diameter.
While both aesthetic surgery and reconstructive plastic surgery deal with improving a patient's body, the overarching philosophies guiding the training, research, and goals for patient outcomes are different. The procedures, techniques, and principles of aesthetic surgery are completely focused on enhancing a patient's appearance. Aesthetic surgery can be performed on all areas of the head, neck, and body. As the treated areas function properly, aesthetic surgery is elective.
While both aesthetic surgery and reconstructive plastic surgery deal with improving a patient's body, the overarching philosophies guiding the training, research, and goals for patient outcomes are different. The procedures, techniques, and principles of aesthetic surgery are completely focused on enhancing a patient's appearance. Aesthetic surgery can be performed on all areas of the head, neck, and body. As the treated areas function properly, aesthetic surgery is elective.
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