What is reconstructive surgery, how does it work, and what does it cover? Read on to learn everything that you need to know about reconstructive surgery.
Did you know that approximately 1.8 million cosmetic surgery procedures were performed in 2019 alone? Cosmetic procedures have only been getting more and more popular in recent years, but they are not all for aesthetics. Instead, some of these procedures focus on reconstructive surgery.
So, what is reconstructive surgery, how does it work, and what does it cover? If you’re asking yourself any of these questions, you’re reading the right article to find some answers. Let’s take a look at what reconstructive surgery can treat.
What Is Reconstructive Surgery?
Reconstructive surgery, as the name suggests, involves reconstructing a part of the body that has been deformed or damaged in some way. Some examples include breast reconstructive surgery or procedures to correct facial abnormalities. For example, if a child is born with a cleft lip, reconstructive surgery can help restore the lip, allowing the child to eat without any problems.
If you read any reconstructive surgery guide, including this one, you will find that another common procedure involves breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. A mastectomy involves removing part or all of the breast tissue. After a mastectomy, a woman may feel self-conscious, but reconstructive surgery can help.
Reconstructive surgery may also come into play to remove tumors from the face or to straighten jaw misalignments. Reconstructive surgery can treat virtually any part of the body, including the hands. For example, webbed fingers, carpal tunnel, and arthritis can all be treated with reconstructive surgery, to some degree.
This kind of surgery is not necessarily a cure for every condition, but it can help restore the appearance and/or function of many parts of the body. It can also help to improve the confidence of those who may have been ashamed of their abnormal body parts.
What to Expect from a Reconstructive Surgery Procedure
What you should expect from your procedure, of course, all depends on what kind of procedure you are getting done. Surgery on the face will be much different than surgery on the breasts or on an amputated limb. No matter what procedure you need, it is important that you choose a reputable reconstructive surgery clinic.
You can ensure that a clinic is reputable by checking its reviews and the credentials of the medical professionals who work there. Of course, if a clinic has poor reviews and many unhappy patients, it is likely best to save your money and look for a safer and better clinic. Even if you might save money going to a shady clinic, the results will likely not be ideal and your risk for infection can be great.
Once you find a clinic, you can talk with the surgeon there and explain what you’re looking for from the procedure. You should explain your medical history so the surgeon will know exactly what kind of problems he or she might face when operating. With this information, your surgeon can work to achieve the results that you envision.
Since it is such a common procedure, let’s look at breast reconstruction as an example.
Understanding Breast Reconstructive Surgery
When undertaking this kind of surgery, it is important to know that your breasts might not look perfect after the surgery. This is because scarring is inevitable. If you have had your breasts removed, reconstructive surgery will aim to add volume to your chest in order to balance out your proportions.
There is also the risk that your breasts may have little to no feeling after surgery. However, after healing, you may regain some sensation in the area. You also have plenty of options when it comes to choosing breast implants.
You can choose to have fat from other parts of your body such as your thighs moved to your breasts. However, this will make the surgery longer and you will have to stay at the hospital for a longer period. With this method, your breasts will look more natural since they contain your own fat.
If you choose implants, the procedure will be faster and you will heal faster as well. Just know that the result may be firmer than what a natural breast would be. You may also need to come back at a later time to adjust your implants to make sure they look the way they should.
Whatever decision you choose, the breast surgery will always be performed under anesthesia so you will not feel any pain.
After The Procedure
After the procedure, when the anesthesia wears off, your doctor will tell you how to take care of your incisions to make sure they heal properly. This is important because if you don’t clean your incisions, you will leave yourself at a greater risk of developing an infection. An infection can ruin the results of your surgery if it goes too far, and some can even be fatal.
As your incisions heal and the swelling in the area goes down, you will be able to see the results of the surgery. Some people may need multiple surgeries to achieve the result they’re looking for.
Your Reconstructive Surgery Guide
Reconstructive surgery can help many people feel better about their bodies. Now you have a better idea what to expect.
To learn more, don’t hesitate to contact us at (402) 391-4558.
