Plastic Surgery – Not Just Cosmetic

Plastic surgery is an ancient medical specialty that’s grown tremendously through the centuries. Advancements with incision techniques and surgical methods have made plastic surgery more widely available.

Plastic surgery is an ancient medical specialty that has grown tremendously through the centuries. Advancements in incision techniques and surgical methods have made plastic surgery more widely available. While a number of patients will focus on cosmetic procedures to provide a more youthful, or toned appearance, a few patients seek surgery for reconstructive purposes. 

Plastic surgery developed from research in rhinoplasties in 7th century India. At the time, many criminals faced punishment by having their nose amputated. In an attempt to restore form and function to the nose, doctors developed skin grafting techniques in which skin from the forehead was removed and used to cover the nasal cavity. Plastic surgery continued to develop with advancements in sterilization, anesthesia and incision techniques. Prior to anesthesia, surgery on conscious patients with healthy tissue was too painful. 

Furthermore, used surgical equipment left patients at risk for post-surgical infections; these factors made elective plastic surgery impractical before the invention of pain killers and antibiotics. However, plastic surgery became more popular after World War I when soldiers returned home looking to repair disfiguring facial injuries; skin grafts were the most common procedures for repair facial injuries. In fact, a British soldier is the first recorded case of plastic surgery. . 

Liposuctions and rhinoplasties are the most common surgery procedures today. Liposuction is a procedure that removes excess fat by inserting a suction tube underneath the skin and into selected pockets of fat in the stomach, thighs, or buttocks. Although it does not involve advanced techniques for a rhinoplasty or facelift, the surgeon must be careful to not cause too much trauma to the underlying skin or remove vital tissue such as lymph nodes or muscle. It is very common because it is performed in combination with other surgery procedures such as a tummy tuck or facelift. 

Abdominoplasties and facelifts use liposuction because they are meant to reconstruct or reshape areas that may begin to sag and wrinkle from age or lack of skin elasticity. In these procedures, the surgeon will first use liposuction to remove the excess fat, and then use incision techniques to remove the excess skin. Many times, a patient may be looking to simply reshape and tone fatty areas that are resistant to diet and exercise, and a liposuction can be performed alone. A liposuction is typically an elective procedure, although some patients will have the procedure to relieve pressure on joints surrounded by excess fat. Rhinoplasties have gained popularity among ethnic patients looking to reshape distinctive nasal characteristics. However, it is still popular as a reconstructive surgery. Patients who have suffered a nasal fracture may need a rhinoplasty if the nose did not heal correctly. 

This type of surgery has both cosmetic and reconstructive purposes. Although the majority of patients today are looking to have cosmetic procedures, the field developed out of reconstructive efforts. Even today, some of the most popular plastic surgery techniques are still popular for reconstructive motivations. 

Article Tags: Plastic Surgery, Incision Techniques

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