Plastic surgery isn’t all breast implants, nose jobs, and liposuction. Doctors also use cosmetic procedures to help patients who have suffered from disease, injury or birth defects to live a more satisfying life.
Plastic surgery isn’t only about vanity, cosmetic improvements, and looking younger, but many people go under the knife for reconstructive purposes. Disease, injury, and birth defects can leave people with permanent disfigurement that can be emotionally distressing. People with noticeable physical defects may not only struggle with confidence and self-acceptance in their personal lives, but often find themselves discriminated against by society. It can be especially difficult for those who have had major changes to their body later on in life and must learn to readjust to a completely new appearance.
Most diseases that cause extreme disfigurement such as leprosy and elephantiasis are exceedingly rare, especially in western society. There are, however, more common diseases that can result in disfigurement due to treatment such as breast cancer. In some cases, the doctor must make the decision to remove all or part of the breast tissue in order to stop the cancer from spreading. Some women learn how to accept the change in their body and even embrace it. Many, however, when faced with losing an important part of their physical being, choose plastic surgery to reconstruct the breasts. There are several different techniques used that range from skin grafts to traditional implants in order to create a natural, whole appearance. Doctors often advocate undergoing reconstruction during removal surgery, and while this may have its benefits, women may also wait until they’ve had some time to adjust to their new body and think carefully about the situation.
Injury is another reason that many people seek plastic surgery. Sometimes the improvements sought can be minor, such as scar revision on a small keloid in a highly visible area, but in other instances they may involve extensive skin grafts following third degree burns over a large portion of the body. While reconstruction surgery after an injury can be a great improvement, some patients are still disappointed with the results. It is very unrealistic to believe that any surgery can restore your body to a previous state, especially when most surgical procedures require incisions, which will inevitably leave scarring. Fortunately though improved techniques, such as with the advent of endoscopy (which involves microscopic incisions and considerably less tissue damage) have much better results than in the past. It is important for anyone considering reconstructive plastic surgery to go in with realistic expectations and a thorough understanding of the potential outcome.
Even children may be candidates for plastic surgery if it is for reconstructive purposes. One fairly common birth defect, microtia (an estimated 1 in every 10,000 births), is where one or both ears are not fully developed. Hearing is usually not affected and most children can begin the reconstructive process as early as six to eight years of age. There are several different methods used depending on the severity of the condition, but a cartilage graft harvested from the rib is a popular choice. By performing a reconstructive procedure on a child early on, years of teasing from peers and the potential alienation that follows can be prevented.
