Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery repairs and reconstructs missing or damaged tissue and skin.
Plastic surgery aims to reform the appearance and function of skin and tissue so it’s as close to normal as possible.
Plastic surgery differs from cosmetic surgery, which solely modifies a person’s appearance to fulfill what they feel is a more desirable look.
Benefits
The use of plastic surgery can be to repair:
- Anomalies that have existed from birth, such as webbed fingers, cleft lip and palate, and birthmarks
- Areas injured by the removal of cancerous tissue from the face or breast
- Extensive burns or other serious wounds
Plastic surgery can often enhance a person’s self-esteem, confidence, and overall quality of life.
Plastic surgery techniques
Some of the processes used during plastic surgery are:
- Tissue expansion
- Skin grafts
- Skin flap surgery
Plastic surgeons also use other methods, such as:
- Vacuum closure
- Fat transfer or grafting
- Camouflage makeup or cream
- Prosthetic devices, such as artificial limbs
Risks of plastic surgery
As with any other surgery, plastic surgery also associates with its risks.
The extent of risks solely depends on the size of the affected area, the overall health of the person having the procedure, and the surgeon’s experience in the field.
Some approaches carry specific risks.
General hazards include:
- Pain and discomfort
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Scarring
Contact your surgeon, healthcare, or the doctor immediately if you have any troubles after surgery, such as spontaneous pain, swelling, blood or fluid discharge, or other side effects.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 04 October 2022