What is Plastic Surgery?

Considering the FAQ about Cosmetic surgery the first question that comes to people's mind is what it is all about. Plastic Surgery is a medical sub- specialty and uses surgical and non- surgical methods for changing the appearance and functioning of a body organ. The science of plastic and reconstructive surgery is beneficial for people desiring some cosmetic enhancements as well as for those requiring functionally reconstructive measures.

This surgery for enhancing the appearance of body is also known as Cosmetic Surgery. Plastic surgery commonly deals with defects of the skin, soft tissues, muscles or underlying skeleton but in the current scenario it is also done to improve looks of normal body organs such as face, nose, eyes, cheeks, chin, breasts, contours of abdomen, waist, hips and legs etc.

What is Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery?

One of the most FAQ about cosmetic surgery is what reconstructive and cosmetic surgery is and why cosmetic surgery should be opted? The Reconstructive and Cosmetic surgery are two sub components of plastic surgery. The Reconstructive surgery aims at restoring the function and looks of the defected organ which may be deformed since birth or after an injury or even due to some prior surgical procedures. The Cosmetic surgery purely is aimed at enhancing the appearance of a normal body part for cosmetic reasons.

Who requires Plastic Surgery?

People worldwide are now opting for cosmetic surgery for enhancing their body parts. Over the years the science of Plastic Surgery has evolved as an important measure for dealing with various defects there are various types of Cosmetic surgery to treat such defects:

• Birth or Congenital Defects : Plastic surgery is serves as an effective measure for people dealing with birth or congenital defects. The surgical procedure in such cases aims at treating various birth or congenital defects such as:

• Abnormal shape of the head or skull, clefts of the lips, defects or abnormal shape of the eyes, nose, ears, jawbones etc.
• Defects of the limbs, fused fingers, extra fingers, large sized fingers and toes also can be treated with the help of plastic surgery.
• Defects of the genitals such as abnormal shape of the penis with abnormal urinary opening, absence of vagina and inter sex etc.
• Large black hairy nevus or moles, haemangiomas and vascular lesions all can be treated with this surgical procedure.
• Plastic surgery also goes to the extent of correcting birth defects inside the mother's womb.

• Accidents and Injuries : plastic surgery comes to front to treat various accidents and injuries as well. The accidental defects that are treated with the help of plastic surgery include:
• Injuries involving face, eyelids, nose, ears etc. All the cases of fractures of mouth, cheek, nose and jaw bones are treated.
• All kinds of injuries dealing with extensive skin loss or degloving.
• Hand and fingers especially industrial crush injuries and cut tendons or nerves.
• Total or partial amputations of the limbs, hands or fingers also find their solutions under cosmetic surgery.

• Burn Injuries: the procedure of cosmetic surgery is also a perfect remedy for patients suffering from acute burns due to flames, chemicals and acids, hot fluids or electric flash. The surgery also is helpful at treating post burn contractures, thick hypertrophic scars which also causes deformities of several body parts.

• Post Surgery Defects : post any surgical procedure such as extensive removal of various parts or areas causes malignant or cancerous growths such as breasts, jaws, lips, mandible etc. In such cases also plastic surgery is an apt solution as it also helps at removing various post surgical scars from the skin.

• Skin Defects : various skin diseases are also treated with cosmetic surgery such as: vitiligo or leucoderma patches, split ear lobules also tattoo marks.

• Cosmetic Surgery : the cosmetic surgery is performed for enhancing a normal body part. Most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries are done for correcting following body parts:

• Removal of facial wrinkles, forehead wrinkles, heaviness around eyelids, baggy eyelids, crow's feet wrinkles, peri oral wrinkles, jowls and double chin.
• Changing the shape of the nose.
• Augmentation on lips
• Cheek alteration
• Chin alteration
• Reshaping ears
• Breast reduction or enhancement and lifting procedure
• Remolding arms and legs
• Surgery for correcting loose hanging belly, waist, hips, buttocks and hips, thighs etc.
• Removal of post pregnancy stretch marks.
• Laser surgery for permanent hair removal
• Hair transplant
• Eyelid Surgery

Why Plastic? Is there any role of Plastic material?

The word 'Plastic' is derived from the Greek word 'Plastikos' meaning to mold or shape and according the Plastic Surgery is the science of reconstructing the disfigured or diseased or injured body parts. The procedure of reconstruction mainly remolds various tissues and skin and hence, is termed as Plastic Surgery.

Is Cosmetic Surgery very expensive?

Another most important FAQ about cosmetic surgery is regarding its expenses. The surgery is not very expensive its expenses varies in different institutions, the infrastructure required for a particular surgery, material used, nature of the procedure, anesthesia and the operating surgeon. As compared to other countries in West, cosmetic surgery in India is very cost effective. The world class healthcare facilities and presence of best practitioners makes the surgery easily available with no waiting period. In comparison to other medical super specialties, a routine plastic surgery requires minimal instrumentation and infrastructure but also high standards of innovative surgical skills.

Is Plastic Surgery painful?

All the procedures of plastic surgery are performed under effective local or general anesthesia and hence are completely painless. Patients undergoing cosmetic surgery are mostly leave hospital the same evening or in a couple of days.

What is a pedicle graft or flap?

A pedicle graft is also known as flap which consists of a segment of skin. This segment of skin underlies subcutaneous tissue and/or muscle which are shifted from one area to an open wound or defect for covering that wound. Pedicle refers to the blood supply to the flap is never divided when the blood supply is divided and reattached it is called a free flap which then requires specialized skill in micro vascular surgery.

How face lift is done?

The procedure of face lift begins with incisions are made in the hair line, temple region
Extending down in front of the ear and then around the back of the ear into the hairline. The incisions vary depending on the technique being used. The skin of the face and neck is dissected into the cheeks and neck allowing it to be mobilized upwards which results into tightening of the skin.

Does face lift leave scars?

The surgery for face lift does leave some scars but the surgeons are usually trained to place at such areas that they are very inconspicuous. The plastic surgeon usually shows the patients beforehand where the scars will lay usually these scars are covered with hair or can be hidden with the help of makeover.

What areas of the body can be treated with liposuction? Does it leave scars?

The procedure of liposuction can treat most body parts. Most common body areas in females that are treated with liposuction are abdomen, hips and thighs. Men are treated for liposuction in the breasts, hips and abdomen. Other body parts that are treated with this procedure includes: upper arms, under the chin and the buttocks.

The procedure of liposuction involves making small incisions which are put in areas that are most inconspicuous and hence the scars are not visible. Most of the incisions heal well and the scars become very much invisible.