Birth
Defects I Cosmetic Disfiguration
I Burns I Hands &
Feet I Trauma I Cancer
Surgery I Carnio Maxial Facial
I Occuplastic Surgery I Surgery
of Ageing Face I Micro Surgery I
Others
Download Head & Neck Surgery Lectures
What
is Plastic Surgery?
Plastic
surgery,
is the change, replacement, or rebuilding of the parts of the body for
achieving cosmetic and functional normalcy. This is a specialized branch
of surgery concerned with the repair of deformities and correction of
functional deficits.
Surgeries like facelift, rhinoplasty and abdominoplasty are concerned
with the improvement of body shape and contour. On the other hand surgeries
assisting in reanimating a paralyzed face, or restoring function to
a deformed hand or making possible healing of compound fractures by
providing adequate shin cover are vital for making the patient regain
functional adequacy.
Reconstructive Surgery is an attempt to restore the individual to normal
and Aesthetic or Cosmetic surgery attempts to surpass the normal. The
distinction between the two, though forced upon by commercial compulsions
and market forces (cosmetic surgery often being non-reimbursable by
health insurance) is hypothetical as they invariably go hand in hand.
While most reconstructive surgical procedures have an aesthetic component
like correction of a cleft hp or hypertelorism most aesthetic and cosmetic
surgeries have a reconstructive and functional undertone. Thus visual
impairment arising from hooding of upper eyelids and neck and shoulder
pains associated with massive enlargement of breasts are treated concomitantly
by purely aesthetic surgical procedures like blepharoplasty and reduction
mammaplasty respectively.
The art of Plastic Surgery lies in conceiving the result in three dimensions
in the mind of the surgeon, before its actual realization in the material.
This conceived result has to be matched with the expectation of the
patient and closer this match the more satisfied is the patient. What
remains then is the simple task of executing the plan to perfection
and then we have a good result and a happy patient.
Corrective Plastic Surgery
In
corrective plastic surgery, the surgeon may use tissue from the patient
or rarely from another person or artificial material. The artificial
tissue or implant must not be irritating. It must have a texture that
is right for the body part. It must also be able to hold its shape and
form for a long time. Implants are often used in making breasts larger,
noses sharper, chins more prominent and penis erect.
Reconstructive
Plastic Surgery
Reconstructive
plastic surgery corrects birth defects, repairs structures destroyed
by injury, and replaces tissue removed in other surgeries. Cleft lip
and cleft palate repair release of post burn contractures and other
jaw and face (maxillofacial) surgeries are commonly performed reconstructive
surgeries. Cosmetic or aesthetic surgery of the nose (rhinoplasty),
ear and wrinkles (rhytidoplasty or face lift), are also fairly popular.
Correcting obvious defects may be very helpful for the patient in dealing
with others and keeping a high sense of self-esteem.
Plastic Surgery today has touched a wide variety of people and
is certainly within the easy reach of many more than
it once
was. Just when we were about to dispel the notion that we do not use
"Plastic" we were flooded with the option of the use of silicon
Breast Implants, Tissue Expanders and Nose, Chin, and Joint implants.
The use of Titanium Mini Plates and Screws have made us better Maxillofacial
surgeons and the introduction of the Operating Microscope has improved
our ability to replant amputated limbs and digits and provide vascularised
bone grafts for Jaw reconstruction and vascularised soft tissues for
Breast and Penis reconstruction.
Download
Head & Neck Surgery Lectures
Dr
S. Bhattacharya,
M.S. M.Ch. F.I.C.S.
Microsurgery Fellow – St. Vincent’s Hospital,
Melbourne, Australia
Cranio-Facial Fellow – Australian Cranio Facial Unit,
Adelaide, Australia
Ph: 0522-2384881
E-mail: surajitb@sancharnet.in
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