PLASTIC SURGERY AS A MEDICAL SPECIALITY

Plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgery is a medical specialty that uses a number of surgical and nonsurgical techniques to alter the appearance and function of a person’s body. Plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgery procedures consist of both cosmetic enhancements as well as functionally reconstructive operations. In the former case, where aesthetics are considered more important than functionality, plastic surgery is sometimes called as aesthetic or cosmetic surgery. Most plastic surgery procedures involve both aesthetic and functional elements. The word "plastic" derives from the Greek word plastikos meaning to mold or to shape. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons typically mold and reshape the following tissues of the body: skin, fat, muscle, cartilage, and bone. Common techniques used in plastic and reconstructive surgery include: incision, excision, microsurgery, chemosurgery, laser surgery, dermabrasion, electrosurgery, and liposuction.

Reconstructive plastic surgery is carried out to correct functional impairments caused by: burns, traumatic injuries (such as facial bone fractures), congenital abnormalities (such as cleft lip, or cleft palate), developmental abnormalities, infection or disease, and removal of cancers or tumors (such as a mastectomy). Reconstructive plastic surgery is usually performed to ameliorate function, but it may be done to approximate a normal appearance. It is generally covered by insurance coverage but this may differ according to the procedure required.

Common reconstructive plastic surgical procedures are: breast reconstruction for women who have had a mastectomy, cleft lip and palate surgery, contracture surgery for burn victims; creating a new outer ear when one is congenitally absent (anotia/microtia), and repairing skin and mucosa defects after removal of tumors in the head and neck region.

 Plastic and reconstructive surgeons developed the use of microsurgery to transfer tissue for coverage of a defect when no local tissue is available. Tissue flaps made up of skin, muscle, bone, fat or a combination, may be harvested from the body, moved to another site on the body and reconnected to a blood supply by suturing arteries and veins as small as 1-2 mm in diameter.
          While both aesthetic surgery and reconstructive plastic surgery deal with improving a patient's body, the overarching philosophies guiding the training, research, and goals for patient outcomes are different. The procedures, techniques, and principles of aesthetic surgery are completely focused on enhancing a patient's appearance. Aesthetic surgery can be performed on all areas of the head, neck, and body. As the treated areas function properly, aesthetic surgery is elective.