What You Need to Know About Plastic Surgery

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Plastic surgery has become one of the most widely performed surgical procedures today, giving patients greater body confidence and happiness following their procedure.

Some cosmetic surgeries also benefit health and function; for instance, procedures like skin excision can decrease irritation caused by loose skin that rubs against other parts of the body causing friction. This article will highlight various forms of plastic surgery and their advantages.

Table of Contents

Reconstructive surgery

Reconstructive surgery aims to repair damage caused by cancer or its treatment, birth defects, injuries or other conditions. Reconstructive plastic surgeons utilize various reconstructive methods such as skin grafting to rebuild bodily structures.

Reconstructive surgeries often fall within the scope of medical necessity and thus, most health insurance plans will cover these procedures as reconstructive procedures are considered essential care procedures.

No matter if it’s reconstructive or cosmetic work that you need done, finding a surgeon with skills in both areas is vital. Reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries often overlap; especially among adults who must adapt to bodies altered due to illness or trauma. Therefore, pre-surgery counseling from a board certified plastic surgeon is of vital importance in order to avoid confusion when making your choice of a provider.

Cosmetic surgery

Plastic surgery encompasses procedures which alter the shape or appearance of parts of the body for aesthetic or medical purposes, which can include reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries.

Reconstructive plastic surgery aims to restore damaged tissues and skin through various means, including cleft palate operations, head and neck reconstruction, breast reconstruction, microsurgery procedures and hand surgery/replantation.

Cosmetic plastic surgeries are elective procedures designed to enhance or change parts of the body for aesthetic reasons, including otoplasty (ear surgery that entails pinching protruding ears back), neck lifts, liposuction and tattoo removal. While cosmetic surgeons undergo residency training on cosmetic surgery principles, physicians who advertise as cosmetic surgeons may not have enough training in order to perform this type of work properly.

Birth defects

Children suffering from webbed fingers (syndactyly) may benefit from plastic surgery that separates and rearranges tissue to allow straight growth; or people living with craniofacial abnormalities like cleft lip/palate or hemifacial microsomia may require multiple procedures over time as they grow.

Plastic surgeons at Sutter Health repair congenital defects like cleft lips and palate, as well as injuries sustained from trauma or diseases treatments, as well as performing cosmetic surgeries to alter an individual’s appearance – for instance reconstructing an injured ear or rebuilding breasts after mastectomy, reconstructing injured ears or covering scars/birthmarks with skin from other parts of the body or using techniques like surgical anesthesia – among many others.

Health conditions

Though most individuals who undergo cosmetic surgery experience positive results, some individuals are dissatisfied with their outcomes for various emotional reasons. If someone suffers from body dysmorphia or another mental health condition such as depression, they may never feel satisfied with their looks regardless of any plastic surgery procedures they undergo.

Before commencing surgery, a surgeon should discuss realistic expectations and any limitations with their patient to ensure it is appropriate to them and prevent disappointment if results do not match expectations.

Surgeons must also inquire as to whether or not a patient plans on having children in the near future, or has any conditions which could interfere with a successful outcome such as diabetes, blood clotting disorders or vascular issues which could compromise healing processes and increase risks for complications like poor scarring.

Insurance

Many individuals worry that their desired plastic surgery procedure won’t be covered by health insurance, but it is important to remember that insurance policies vary significantly in their coverage; you will want to investigate your specific plan to see whether cosmetic or reconstructive procedures are covered by reading your Summary of Benefits and Coverage document.

Plastic surgery procedures that could be considered medically necessary include the tummy tuck, which can resolve issues related to morbid obesity and lead to an improved quality of life, or breast reduction surgery, which can relieve chronic neck and back pain for women with large breasts.

If your insurance provider denies coverage or only pays partially, you have a right to appeal their decision in writing. In your appeal letter, make sure you request an explanation as to why the procedure has been denied or partially paid for.