Plastic Surgery

What is Plastic Surgery?

Plastic surgery refers to a specific subgroup of medical procedures that fall within the larger category of cosmetic surgery. Like other cosmetic surgeries, plastic surgery is designed not to help address any type of underlying health problem or condition. Rather, it works to treat the cosmetic problems that develop over time and as a patient ages, or those appearance issues that may have been troublesome since birth or youth. Plastic surgeries involve the implantation of tissue-like inserts into various parts of the body.

What does Plastic Surgery consist of?

Plastic can be used to augment the size and shape of certain parts of the body, including the breasts, chin, nose and more. It can also be used to help shape and sculpt parts of the body to add definition and contour where it did not exist before. The procedure will begin with a series of consultations in which the patient will discuss his or her goals with the cosmetic surgeon, as well as the reality of being able to accomplish those goals. The procedure itself will follow once the patient has been deemed suitable for operation.

Who is a candidate for Plastic Surgery?

The successful candidate for this type of operation will have a readily managed appearance issue that is found to be addressable with plastic surgery techniques. This candidate must also have no known health conditions which may affect the success of the surgery or that are known to cause other problems and complications. These may include smoking, diabetes, heart issues, and allergies to the implant materials or anesthesia. Most surgeons will also limit the scope of their operations to those patients that are fully grown and developed.

What will the results be like?

The results of a plastic surgery operation will be dependent upon the specific type of the surgery performed. In most cases, the affected part of the body will be sculpted in such a way as to appear either larger or smaller than previously, and it will also be given additional shape and definition through the insert of an implant.

What are the risks of Plastic Surgery?

The risks of a plastic surgery involve those same risks associated with other surgeries. For instance, patients may experience a negative reaction to the anesthesia or any of the other medicines used in the operation, as well as to the inserts themselves. Some patients experience lasting bodily rejection of the inserts, which manifests itself similarly to an allergic reaction. The risk of an infection striking at the point of implantation or incision is also possible, although the use of antibiotics can help to mitigate that. Many patients experience some change in sensation or feeling at the point of the insert; it's even possible that a patient may lose all sensation, or some or all mobility of the affected part of the body, although this complication is rare.

Disclaimer: This information is intended only as an introduction to this procedure. This information should not be used to determine whether you will have the procedure performed nor does it guarantee results of your elective surgery. Further details regarding surgical standards and procedures should be discussed with your physician.