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If you have a medical condition that warrants attention, it is essential to know how you can get health coverage and where to go to seek care. Knowing what procedures and treatments are available when you have aesthetic concerns that you’d like to address can help you make better, informed decisions.
Aesthetic or cosmetic plastic surgery is enacted to change body appearance or shape essentially when no medical condition is present. Occasionally, the procedure is used to treat conditions that have resulted from another medical condition that is no longer an issue, such as scarring from abdominal surgery or changes after massive weight loss.
Sometimes insurance companies do not offer coverage for conditions they consider cosmetic. However, you can work together with your doctor and insurance company to acquire coverage if possible.
What Is Reconstructive Surgery
Reconstructive procedures are done to remake parts of the body that have been adversely affected by tumors, trauma, injury, disease, or infection. The main objective of reconstructive surgery is to restore the body part to the appearance and functionality it had before the trauma. Reconstructive procedures often have an aesthetic element; therefore, it is crucial for patients to communicate about what visual outcomes they expect with their doctors.
Common reconstructive procedures include:
● Surgery to reduce the appearance of burns
● Reconstruction of breasts after mastectomy
● Reconstruction of lower limbs after fractures
● Hand reconstructions
● Reconstructive procedures of the neck and/or head
● Reattachment of amputated digits
Additionally, reconstructive procedures are done to rectify congenital abnormalities. In this instance, the aim is to transform affected body parts so they can appear more normal and function efficiently. Illustrations of such procedures include craniofacial surgery and cleft lip and palate repair.
What Is Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery is usually done for aesthetic reasons in order to enhance the appearance of one or multiple physical features of the patient. Even though the motives are mostly visual, the benefits of cosmetic surgery extend to the patient’s well-being by promoting confidence and self-esteem. Many people choose cosmetic surgery so that they can feel and look good.
Common cosmetic procedures include:
● Liposuction
● Breast augmentation
● Neck lifts
● Facelifts
● Ear pinning and otoplasty
When Does Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery Overlap
Everyone who undergoes plastic surgery is anxious about the way their results will turn out. There are particular instances when the lines of restorative and cosmetic surgery overlap:
● Cleft Lip and Palate: Cleft lip and palate surgery address feeding issues and speech problems; therefore, it’s considered a necessary surgery for the normal development of children. Performing this surgery with the appearance in mind will enable the child to lead a normal life. Children who do not undergo this procedure often experience detrimental psychological effects.
● Rhinoplasty: Patients can undergo a septoplasty to align or correct a deviated septum. The purpose of this procedure is to obtain a straight nose and improve breathing.
● Breast Reduction: Breast reduction is a procedure that removes tissue from the breasts. The cosmetic benefit of this procedure is having your breasts reshaped and lifted simultaneously. This procedure is often used by women who have large breasts and those in the early stages of breast cancer.
Wrapping Up
There has always been confusion between reconstructive and cosmetic procedures because both are subspecialties of plastic surgery. Plastic surgery can have substantial health and psychological benefits. It can help minimize a patient’s feeling of loss in case of an illness, infection, or trauma.
The overall difference is that reconstructive surgery is done in response to a medical concern, while cosmetic surgery is done for visual benefits.