Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
We often think of plastic surgery as a variety of cosmetic procedures people choose to undergo in order to improve their physical appearance. People regularly pay thousands of dollars to enhance their feature, increase attractiveness and fit into today’s societal norms of what an ideal body needs to look like. On the other hand, reconstructive plastic surgery is used to correct various birth defects, acquired conditions and improve the overall quality of life. While the cosmetic side of plastic surgery is the one usually represented in the media, there is a completely different side that isn’t concerned with vanity and helps improve people’s lives.
Congenital malformations
A congenital malformation is a term used to describe conditions and defects that are present since birth. The most common conditions include cleft lip or palate which is a defect affecting the mouth and top lip, various birthmarks, a condition where ears are absent or very small, called microtia and issues with hands and feet such as having less or more fingers than usual or even webbed fingers. Some of these conditions require extensive reconstructive surgery throughout a patient’s lifetime and can help them deal with both physical, as well as emotional handicaps.
Conditions acquired later in life
Besides birth defects, plastic surgery is also used to reconstruct and repair tissues that are damaged later in life, namely due to infection, trauma, burns or cancer. Cancer is a vicious beast that can wreak havoc on a person so it’s perfectly normal to see breast augmentation surgery is performed on women who’ve had breast cancer. Tissue trauma caused by severe fractures where the bone has broken the skin and extensive burns requiring skin grafts are just some of the conditions whose treatment cannot be imagined without the advancements made in the field of plastic surgery.
Breathing and flow of oxygen
We all know at least one person who’s suffering from a deviated septum. While this condition might ring a bell with regards to snoring issues, a deviated septum can lead to difficulties breathing due to nasal congestion, repeated or recurrent sinus infections, headaches and facial pain, nosebleeds, post-nasal drip and in some extreme cases cause sleep apnea, a condition where a person has stopped breathing while sleeping. A surgeon performing septoplasty would make a small incision around the septum and remove the excess cartilage or bone and make more space for breathing inside the nostrils.
Existing heart conditions
Two of the most influential factors in the development of heart conditions are blood pressure and cholesterol, both of which can be improved by reducing the number of fat deposits you have on your body. While most people would resort to physical exercise and regulate their diets, some people have other conditions that might impair them from exercising properly. In these cases, liposuction can be used to eliminate some of the fat in order to improve the blood pressure, decrease the cholesterol levels and improve existing heart conditions or even prevent conditions from occurring in the future.
Other uses for plastic and reconstructive surgery include pain relief, especially in the neck, back and shoulder regions, reducing the chance of developing type-2 diabetes and extend your overall life expectancy. Granted, cosmetic features are important in the image-driven world we found ourselves in, but there are other, health-related reasons why one would require a surgical treatment. Whatever your motivation may be, weigh out your options and consider the end results carefully before fully committing. If you have a reason to believe that plastic surgery is going to improve your life for the better, then by all means, find a reputable surgeon and go for it.
Guest Blogger
Mia Taylor – mrsmiataylor@gmail.com
