Plastic surgery consists of reconstructive procedures that restore function and cosmetic procedures that enhance overall cosmetic appearance. Plastic surgeons understand the distinction between these two areas well. However, it needs to be better understood by the general public.
In one study, medical students reported a skewed perception of plastic surgery. This may impact their decision to pursue a residency in this specialty.
Scar Revision
Scars are nature’s way of marking wounds that have healed. But not everyone is happy with the appearance of their scars. Scar revision can help make them less noticeable. Although scars cannot be completely erased, scar revision can minimize their size and shape, change the color or texture of the skin around them, or even remove keloids.
Scar revision is usually performed under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting. Most people can go home shortly after the procedure, and they may experience slight discomfort or itching in the area of the scar.
Before a surgical scar revision, patients should eat a nutritious diet and take all recommended medications. Anyone undergoing plastic surgery Bellevue under general anesthesia or monitored anesthesia care (MAC) must arrange for someone to drive them home afterward and stay with them until they are awake.
Patients should also avoid smoking, which causes vasoconstriction and delays healing. A physician can provide more specific instructions about preparing for your surgery.
Skin Grafting
A surgeon can cover large wounds and other cosmetic defects using healthy skin from another part of your body. This procedure is called a skin graft. It may also be used to correct the results of previous surgery or injuries.
Doctors can use either split-thickness or full-thickness skin grafts. Split-thickness grafts only include the top layer — the epidermis. They are usually used for highly visible areas like the nose and eyes. This graft type requires healthier wound beds and heals slowly.
On the other hand, full-thickness grafts include both the epidermis and dermis. Surgeons typically remove this type of skin from the abdomen, groin, or forearm and then close it in a straight line with stitches.
Since the graft doesn’t have its blood supply, doctors will use a sterile dressing to hold it in place for 5 to 7 days until it connects with the local tissue’s blood supply (revascularisation). This type of graft is also known as an autograft.
Breast Augmentation
For women who wish to increase breast size for aesthetic or psychological reasons, augmentation using silicone gel or salt water-filled implants can be used. Breast implant surgery is usually paired with fat grafting to improve the look and feel of the new breast.
In autologous tissue reconstruction, a piece of skin, fat, and blood vessels are harvested from elsewhere in your body and used to rebuild the breast pocket. One of the most popular techniques involves the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap. This requires the complete excision of a section of your lower abdomen. This harvested tissue is then connected to an artery and vein pair that penetrate the abdominal muscles before branching into your chest wall.
An implant is placed in the pocket created by your muscle flap. The implant can be placed in front of the pectoralis chest muscle sub-glandular, partially behind the muscle submuscular, or both in what is known as dual plane placement.
Body Contouring
Whether you want to tighten loose skin on the arms or thighs, lift sagging breasts, or reduce the appearance of stretch marks and cellulite, body contouring offers many options.
Body contouring is an increasingly popular procedure for people who have lost significant weight or struggle with loose, sagging skin that develops after massive weight loss, pregnancy, or aging. This type of cosmetic surgery is a relatively new medical subspecialty developed to address the aesthetic concerns of lost weight patients.
It can be a rewarding last step in achieving the healthy, active lifestyle you envision after losing a substantial amount of weight. It can also help you feel more comfortable in bathing suits and other revealing clothing.
