Reconstructive plastic surgery is more than cosmetic; it restores a patient’s quality of life, from improved posture to immediate relief from back and neck pain to a newfound confidence and sense of self.
Reconstructive procedures repair abnormalities caused by congenital disabilities such as a cleft lip or palate, traumatic injuries like severe burns, or the aftermath of disease treatment, such as reconstructing a woman’s breast after cancer removal.
Improved Self-Esteem
It’s not uncommon for plastic surgery patients to experience an overall boost in their self-esteem. This holds in particular for people who have undergone cosmetic procedures like tummy tucks and breast implants. However, reconstructive surgery has also been shown to boost people’s self-esteem.
For example, a study showed that participants with cleft lip and palate were much more accepting of their bodies than those without. They were also more confident in social situations. The same was true for those with ear deformities, cleft lips and palates, and other genital defects and patients who had suffered trauma to the head or hands.
However, this isn’t the case for everyone. Individuals with a mental disorder like body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) will not experience the same self-esteem boost. It’s essential to understand this before undergoing surgery.
Better Posture
In many cases, reconstructive plastic surgery can be both cosmetic and medically necessary. For example, breast reduction can improve a woman’s posture and relieve back pain.
When it comes to the cosmetic aspect of plastic surgery, most health insurance plans only cover procedures that are deemed medically necessary. However, the cosmetic results of many reconstructive plastic surgeries can be very pleasing to patients.
Plastic surgeons like Dr. Joel Aronowitz have a general idea of a specific body part and try to get patients as close to that standard as possible. This can be an emotional challenge for adult patients who have spent their entire lives with a different body type. Sometimes, this may mean retraining them to move in ways they haven’t done for years. In other instances, educating them about postural pitfalls and ergonomic setup in the operating room may be a matter of educating them.
Relieved Pain
Reconstructive Plastic Surgery can help relieve pain caused by injury, disease, or cancer. For example, a mastectomy patient may have reconstructive surgery to repair skin loss, reduce scarring and restore breast function. A child with a congenital disability can have cleft palate reconstruction to improve eating and speech.
Reconstruction procedures by a reputable surgeon like Joel Aronowitz include tissue, bone, or muscle grafts from other body areas to replace an injured area. For instance, a jaw bone can be rebuilt with a smaller piece from the lower leg (fibula). Bone and muscle can also be reconstructed using implants.
A critical factor in a successful recovery is adequate pain management. Unfortunately, less than half of all patients receive fine postoperative pain control. As the populace learns more about the dangers of long-term opioid use, we are seeing a shift towards more responsible prescribing practices. However, it is essential to discuss the role of pain medications with your surgeon, as everyone has different needs and tolerances.
Improved Mobility
Reconstructive plastic surgery mends holes and repairs damage by transferring healthy tissue from elsewhere in the body. This technique promotes healing and reduces complications. It also helps restore normal function to affected areas and improve people’s appearance.
For example, a patient with burn scars that limit mobility may benefit from flap surgery to remove excess skin and replace it with healthy skin from the buttocks or inner thigh. This technique creates grafts with new blood vessels, improving a person’s range of motion.
Many people experience injuries or medical conditions that lead to disfigurement or loss of function in some parts of their bodies. Reconstructive plastic surgery can help to improve their lives and give them back a sense of self-confidence that they may not have had before.
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