The practice of plastic surgery dates back to World War II when general practitioners began developing new techniques for reshaping the body following war injuries. Until the mid-20th century, there were no specialized plastic surgeons. All that has changed in the intervening years, though, and now there are subspecialties of plastic surgery and all kinds of different procedures performed not just for reconstructive reasons but also purely for aesthetics.
Cosmetic vs. Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
The primary specializations in the field are reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. The former focuses on rebuilding the body or face to address defects from injuries, trauma, or certain medical conditions, while the latter is intended to enhance appearance for non-medical reasons. While it’s possible to get help from Charlotte Plastic Surgery with both of these categories of problems, patients should know what’s available and whether the procedures are considered medically necessary or elective.
Face and Neck Surgeries
Face and neck surgeries usually receive the most attention in the popular media. They come in many forms, each of which addresses a slightly different problem. Cosmetic procedures include:
- Brow lifts
- Cheek lifts
- Facelifts
- Rhinoplasty
- Blepharoplasty
- Double chin surgeries
Some plastic surgeons also perform cleft lip and palate surgeries to address these common birth defects, which are considered non-elective. The same is true of jaw and facial reconstruction surgeries, which are often necessary following extreme injuries, trauma, or certain types of cancer treatments.
Body Contouring Surgeries
The term body contouring is relatively newly developed and can be used to refer to both invasive and non-invasive procedures aimed at improving the appearance of a patient’s silhouette. Surgical options include liposuction, which removes fat from a specified treatment area, and procedures to remove excess fat and skin from an area such as abdominoplasty. These surgical interventions can also be combined with non-invasive treatments.
Breast Surgeries
There are four types of plastic surgeries performed on the breasts. Reconstructive surgery is often necessary following mastectomies in cancer patients and it is considered medically necessary, meaning that insurance will usually pay for it. Breast reductions may also be medically necessary if the patient is struggling with back, neck, and shoulder pain or persistent rashes and skin irritation.
Breast reductions can also be purely cosmetic depending on the circumstances. When that’s the case, patients will have to pay out of pocket. Breast augmentation increases the size of a woman’s breasts, while mastopexy alters their appearance by making them look firmer. Women often request these procedures after childbirth and breastfeeding or losing large amounts of weight.
Gender-Affirming Plastic Surgeries
People who are transgendered often find that having one or more plastic surgeries helps them feel more comfortable in their bodies. When most people think of gender-affirming surgery, they assume patients are undergoing feminizing genitoplasty or phalloplasty. In fact, facial feminization and masculinization surgeries are also quite popular, as are female-to-male top surgeries.
Purely Reconstructive Plastic Surgeries
In most cases, the motivations behind plastic surgery are at least somewhat aesthetic. However, there are also purely reconstructive forms of plastic surgery. Bone grafting is one example. Limb salvage is another. Birth defect repairs often fall into this category, as well.
How to Choose the Right Plastic Surgeon
Be sure to look into a plastic surgery clinic’s reputation and experience levels before choosing who to work with. Choose one that has a surgeon who specializes in performing the type of procedure required to help ensure the best possible results.
