| Dr. Paul Cederna is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Reconstructive Surgery.
Q. What is reconstructive surgery?
Reconstructive operations include all of those operations performed to restore form or function of a patient. The breadth of reconstructive surgery is extensive including replantation of fingers after amputation, reconstruction of a nose after a cancer operation, rebuilding the bones and skin of a face after a car accident, or rebuilding the chest after a heart operation. Occasionally, the border defining reconstructive and cosmetic procedures becomes unclear. As an example, it is unclear whether a cleft lip repair in a child is a "cosmetic" procedure or a "reconstructive" procedure. Indeed, a child with a cleft lip can eat, drink, speak, and be functional without undergoing a cleft lip repair. However, if we don’t reconstruct the lip, it will be very difficult for the child in school because of the teasing and taunting from the other children. It will also be difficult for them as an adult to hold a job "in the public eye". Although we repair the cleft lip to improve the appearance of the child, the implications of that repair are huge and critically important for their development and functional capacity of that child in society.
Q. What is the difference between Cosmetic and Reconstructive surgery and what benefits does Reconstructive surgery provide?
I like to think of cosmetic procedures as simply that collection of operations which are performed to improve the appearance of a patient. A person with a bump on their nose may be very self-conscious about their appearance due to that bump. By removing the bump, we may be able to improve their self-confidence. Although this is a cosmetic procedure, it certainly can impact the way a patient looks and how they feel about themselves. Even patients with small breasts or uneven breasts may be very self-conscious about their appearance and adjust the clothing they wear or even avoid certain social situations (like pool parties or going to the beach) so their least favorite "attribute" is not obvious. Performing an operation to correct this will be greatly beneficial to them but is this cosmetic or reconstructive operation? This is a very difficult question.
Q. Who is a good candidate for Reconstructive surgery?
Any patient who is considering reconstructive surgery will require a full evaluation from a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. There are many surgeons who call themselves "Cosmetic Surgeons" who are not Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons and are not held to the same standard of performance as the Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Patients should use caution when selecting their surgeon and should ensure that their surgeon has had the best training possible and is competent to perform the operation they are considering. The best way to confirm this is making sure that they are Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. Your surgeon can help you determine is you are a good candidate for a reconstructive procedure.
Q. Does Reconstructive surgery have possible risks and complications?
There are risks associated with all operations including simple mole removal procedures. Each individual operation has its own set of complications and your surgeon will explain them to you completely. In fact, as a patient, you should insist that your surgeon explains the risks to you completely for the procedure you are considering. In addition, you should make sure that you understand completely what he/she has explained to you.
Q. How long does it take to recover from Reconstructive surgery?
After most reconstructive procedures such as breast lifts and tummy tucks, patients have activity restrictions to reduce the risk of wound complications, enhance healing, and optimize the chances of achieving a great outcome. There will be a period of a couple of weeks where the patient experiences pain which is controlled with oral pain medications and then activity restrictions for about 6 weeks (no lifting anything heavier than 5 lbs). The surgeon will explain the postoperative recovery period in detail at the time of consultation.
Q. Does Reconstructive surgery leave any visible scarring?
There is visible scarring for most operations performed. However, part of the magic of plastic surgery is being able to hide the scars as much as possible in areas that are not as easily seen. A tummy tuck operation is performed through a bikini-line incision so the scar would not be visible even in a skimpy bikini. A breast augmentation can be performed through an incision under the breast or in the armpit. A facelift is performed through an incision within the hair, in front of the ear, and behind the ear; all of these incisions hide very nicely and are only seen by the person who performs your haircut. |
