what is plastic surgery

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What is plastic surgery
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Plastic surgery

• Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty involving
  the restoration, reconstruction, or alteration of
  the human body. It can be divided into two
  categories. The first is reconstructive surgery
  which includes craniofacial surgery, hand
  surgery, microsurgery, and the treatment
  of burns. The other is cosmetic or aesthetic
  surgery. While reconstructive surgery aims to
  reconstruct a part of the body or improve its
  functioning, cosmetic surgery aims at improving
  the appearance of it.

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Sub-specialties

• Plastic surgery is a broad field, and may be
  subdivided further. In the United States, plastic
  surgeons are board certified by American Board of
  Plastic Surgery. Sub disciplines of plastic
  surgery may include
• Aesthetic surgery
• Burn surgery
• Craniofacial surgery
• Hand surgery
• Microsurgery
• Pediatric plastic surgery

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Techniques and procedures

• In plastic surgery, the transfer of skin tissue
  (skin grafting) is a very common procedure. Skin
  grafts can be derived from the recipient or
  donors
• Auto grafts are taken from the recipient. If
  absent or deficient of natural tissue,
  alternatives can be cultured sheets of epithelial
  cells in vitro or synthetic compounds, such as
  Integra, which consists of silicone and bovine
  tendon collagen with glycosaminoglycan's.
• Allografts are taken from a donor of the same
  species.
• Xenografts are taken from a donor of a different
  species.
• Usually, good results would be expected from
  plastic surgery that emphasize careful planning
  of incisions so that they fall within the line of
  natural skin folds or lines, appropriate choice
  of wound closure, use of best available suture
  materials, and early removal of exposed sutures
  so that the wound is held closed by buried
  sutures.

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What Does a Plastic Surgeon Do?

• Plastic surgeons perform operations that change
  the shape or appearance of part of a patient's
  body. They not only perform cosmetic surgeries
  such as nose jobs or face lifts, but they also
  perform reconstructive surgeries for patients who
  have injuries from a car crash or other accident
  or for those with birth defects.
• Consultations
• Regardless of their specialty, all plastic
  surgeons have consultations with patients. The
  doctor must communicate with the patient to
  determine the desired outcome of the surgery and
  to explain the possible risks and side effects of
  surgical procedures. Plastic surgeons working in
  emergency medicine or with burn victims may work
  on patients who are unconscious or unable to
  communicate. In these cases, surgeons often
  communicate with the patient's family to
  determine the best course of treatment.

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• Surgical Preparation
• Doctors may need to perform tests prior to the
  surgery. For example, X-rays are needed on an
  accident victim to perform reconstructive
  surgery. Surgeons may also mark incision lines on
  patients prior to surgery. In addition, doctors
  must ensure patients are in good enough health to
  undergo surgery and anesthesia.
• Education and Certification
• Plastic surgeons must maintain their license to
  practice medicine. This involves completing
  continuing education credits and staying current
  on new surgical techniques and advances. Specific
  continuing education requirements vary by state.

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• Other Considerations
• Plastic surgeons also provide follow-up care for
  the patient after surgery to ensure that
  infections are avoided or treated if necessary
  and that the surgery achieved its objectives. In
  some cases, they may refer patients to physical
  therapists or other specialists to complete their
  recovery. Surgeons also perform some
  administrative tasks, including updating patient
  medical records with test results and notes from
  examinations.

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Complications, risks and reversals

• All surgery has risks. Common complications of
  cosmetic surgery includes hematoma, nerve damage,
  infection, scarring, implant failure and organ
  damage. Breast implants can have
  many complications, including rupture. In 2011
  FDA stated that 1 in 5 patients who received
  implants for breast augmentation will need them
  removed within 10 years of implantation