You Can Improve Your Appearance or Rectify Defects in the Body through Cosmetic Plastic or Reconstructive Surgery Respectively

Cosmetic plastic surgery encompasses reshaping the normal structure of the body to be able to improve the appearance of the patient as well as bolster self-esteem. However, cosmetic plastic surgery may not usually be covered by health insurance as it is elective.

In addition, cosmetic surgery is very often undertaken when it is required to change the patient’s features which he or she finds unflattering or if there are medical reasons such as breast reduction or when there is an orthopedic problem present.

Cosmetic surgery is an important means of improving personal appearance and this is borne out by what is believed to be 11.9 million cosmetic procedures that were undertaken in the US during the year 2004. However, due to the threat of associated risks one should not undertake cosmetic surgery without taking adequate precautions and exercising judicious care.

Plastic surgery has been recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties as being a sub-specialty that is mainly concerned with surgically repairing defects of form or function and includes both cosmetic as well as reconstructive surgery. There are a number of popular cosmetic surgery types that include tummy tuck, ab etching, eyelid surgery, breast enlargement, butt augmentation, chemical peel, breast lift, nose jobs, ear surgeries, face lifts, removing fat from the body, implants, cheek augmentation, collagen, and mesotherapy.

When to Get the Surgery

On the other hand, reconstructive surgery is undertaken when there are abnormal structures of the body that may be a result of congenital defects or developmental abnormalities or trauma or infection or tumors or even disease. Normally, reconstructive surgery is undertaken when the patient needs his or her functions to be improved or when they desire to look and appear more normal.

Most health insurance policies cover reconstructive surgery even though some specific procedures and coverage levels may vary. There are a number of typical reconstructive surgeries that include breast reconstruction for women having had a mastectomy, cleft lip and palate surgery.

Another popular example of reconstructive surgery is sex reassignment surgery for transsexual people and it is also used in contracture surgery for burn survivors and for closing skin and mucosa defects when a tumor is removed in the head and neck regions. To further improve reconstructive surgery, plastic surgeons have developed the use of microsurgery when transferring tissue to cover a defect where no local tissue is available.