| Dr. James Wells 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 the difference between Cosmetic and Reconstructive surgery?
A. COSMETIC sugery is the alteration of essentially normal structures to improve the normal appearance.
RECONSTRUCTIVE surgery is the correction of deformities related to cancer surgery, trauma, or congenital problems, trying to achieve normal appearance and function.
Q. Who is a good candidate for Reconstructive surgery?
A. Anyone who is seeking this surgery must have realistic expectations. Surgery does not happen overnight and results are not obtained overnight. Even the best surgeons will have complications and patients and surgeons must work together to finish the work. This applies both to reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.
Q. Does Reconstructive surgery have possible risks and complications?
A. All surgery has risks and complications. Bleeding and infection is the most common. In cosmetic surgery, unrealistic expectations are usually the reason most people who are unhappy afterwards applies. This surgery does not get you a job, or fix bad relationships, or make you 6feet tall when you are only 5feet tall to start.
Q. How long does it take to recover from Reconstructive surgery?
A. Recovery times vary depending on the surgery. Very complicated surgery generally requires about 6 weeks to resume your full activities. Other surgery might require less time. But all incisions need to heal before being challenged by physical activity. Some jobs, which do not have a physical component, might result in a shorter recovery time.
Q. Does Reconstructive surgery leave any visible scarring?
A. All surgery will leave scars. We try to place incisions in natural creases or hide them in ways that most people will not see them. In spite of that, some people inherently make bad scars (usually considered a "keloid") and without prior history, it may be difficult to predict. In most cases, something can be done to revise the scar if that should occur.
Different skin types will scar differently. Different body areas heal differently and thus not all incisions will heal the same. The face is generally most forgiving. The back and chest and areas over joints, the least forgiving.
Q. Is Reconstructive surgery covered by insurance?
A. Most reconstructive surgery is covered by insurance. There are many insurance plan variations and each has it’s own criteria for coverage. It is important to get a written commitment from insurance before the surgery. Insurance companies always ‘reserve the right’ to make an after the fact decision regarding your coverage however. Photographs of the proposed surgical site (breast reduction for example) require that photographs be sent in ahead of time to obtain authorization. Nasal surgery is one of the most difficult to obtain pre-authorization for.
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