What Is Plastic Surgery? is an industry that deals with repairing, reconstructing, or altering the human body. Plastic surgery is divided into two types: reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery.
Reconstructive surgery includes craniofacial surgery, hand surgeries, microsurgery, and burn treatments. Plastic surgery is an integral part of cosmetic surgery and can significantly improve one’s appearance. In this article, you will learn what to expect during surgery and what you can expect.
Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery aims to correct imperfections in the body, such as disfigured or deformed faces, sagging breasts, or wrinkly hands. These imperfections may be congenital or acquired due to aging or disease. Cosmetic surgery also includes surgical procedures requested by patients to change their appearance.
In contrast, reconstructive surgery treats morphological changes caused by pathological conditions. In addition, cosmetic surgery focuses on improving outward appearance, which is crucial to one’s physical and psychological well-being.
While cosmetic surgery can improve your physical appearance, not all cosmetic surgeries are equally effective. Some procedures require general anesthesia and IV sedation. Others, such as injecting facial fillers, can be performed in an outpatient or physician’s office.
Before cosmetic surgery, you will meet with your surgeon and health care team to discuss your expectations and possible risks. Typically, bruising and swelling occur for up to three weeks after your surgery.
Burn Treatments
Over the past decade, survival rates for burn patients have improved significantly. Plastic surgeons have developed new techniques for burn treatment, including laser resurfacing, fat grafting, and nerve decompression, which minimize pain and itchiness and simplify reconstructive procedures.
A plastic surgeon in NC can also do this for you. While plastic surgeons didn’t anticipate being able to perform fat grafting for burn scars in their early career, today, they have a nearly 80 percent success rate.
Another standard burn treatment is skin grafting. The doctor will harvest a patch of healthy skin from a donor or the patient’s body. The graft is then transplanted into the burned area. A skin graft is usually performed under general anesthesia, so the patient will not experience any pain during the procedure.
However, the spot where the graft is placed may be sore for a day or two afterward. Another procedure called tissue expansion is another form of burn treatment. The surgeon will use a balloon expander to stretch the skin and replace damaged tissue with healthy, new tissue that is nearly identical in color and texture.
Cryolipolysis
Patients seeking to reduce their abdominal fat or other body fat can opt for cryolipolysis. This cosmetic procedure does not involve needles or incisions. Instead, a device holds a body part between paddles of freezing gas.
The process destroys approximately twenty to twenty-five percent of the fat cells in the treated area. Although final results may not be seen for several months, patients may begin to notice some changes as soon as a few weeks after treatment. After that, the body gradually clears the fat cells, and the fatty bulge diminishes. During this time, the results may vary from person to person.
Cryolipolysis is considered a safe and effective method of fat reduction. Although it does not harm the liver or other organs, it has minimal side effects. Depending on the area of the body to be treated, it may require more than one treatment session. The first session targets the upper layer of fat. Subsequent sessions target more deep layers of fat.
You should customize the number of treatment sessions to meet the patient’s needs. Larger patients usually need multiple sessions for full correction. After the procedure, the clinician should wait for sufficient time to evaluate the results and ensure they are satisfied.
Minimally Invasive Procedures
A recent report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) shows that nearly half of all cosmetic surgery procedures performed in the United States are minimally invasive. This includes systems like face lifts, tummy tucks, and neck lifts.
These procedures also require little to no recovery time and are often considered safe and effective. Because of their limited downtime and low risk of infection, they are quickly becoming famous for various reasons.
There are many different types of minimally invasive plastic surgery. Finding the right surgeon is critical. Make sure he is board certified and has the expertise and experience necessary for your procedure. A plastic surgery practice in your town is an excellent place to start looking.
Depending on where you live, you might even want to travel out of state to get the procedure. Minimally invasive surgeries are often performed in a doctor’s office, not a hospital, so it’s a good idea to seek a board-certified surgeon.
Recovery Time
There’s no such thing as a quick fix regarding recovery time after plastic surgery. While it can be uncomfortable and time-consuming, it’s essential to know that your doctor’s recommendations are based on the latest medical research. This includes post-surgical instructions, which you’ll need to follow for at least the first 48 hours.
You’ll likely need someone to stay with you for the first 24 hours following your procedure. You may also need assistance with daily activities, such as washing your hair or getting dressed. In addition, your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to take pain medication, apply ointments, and use particular tools.
While there are numerous reasons to consider plastic surgery, keeping your expectations realistic is essential. Full recovery means healing, but you’ll also be in pain, slowing down your life, and need a bit of time to adjust to the new you.
