Reconstructive Vs Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery has become a very common procedure in the past decade. There is a great demand of plastic surgeons but most of the demand is purely for cosmetic purposes. There are many different types of plastic surgeries. What differentiates the two major types is the purpose of the surgery. A plastic surgery performed to improve a person’s appearance is termed as cosmetic while the one performed to cure or restore the health or physical injury is termed as reconstructive plastic surgery. There is a lot of debate regarding the two as insurance companies’ cover the latter but since the former is an elective process it is not covered under any type of health insurance.

The other reason for the debate is the perspective with which the surgery is viewed or the basic purpose. There are some very prominent examples where the type of surgery is the same but only because it differs slightly in its objective; it is termed as cosmetic or reconstructive. For instance, breast augmentation when done to improve the appearance of the breasts is obviously cosmetic but when the same is performed for rebuilding it post mastectomy or due to loss of breast post breast cancer, then it is termed as reconstructive.

In another case, if Rhinoplasty i.e. nose job is done to correct the deviation of the septum then it is reconstructive but if it is done to straighten the nose or improve its shape then it is cosmetic. Similarly eye lift surgery for correcting the vision or other problems is reconstructive but if it is to remove crow feet or restore youth then it is purely cosmetic. The difference thus lies in the purpose of surgery. There are also surgeons who are certified or have expertise in either of he forms or both the forms. Hence you should understand your requirement and choose a plastic surgeon accordingly.

Cosmetic surgery involves facelifts, breast augmentation, removal of wrinkles etc. These are all to improve the overall looks of the patient. The patient themselves opt for this procedure and it is not a compulsion for them or has no health benefits. However incase of reconstructive surgery, the procedure is performed either to restore health both physical and psychological, of a person or to correct some sever injury. It is a correction that the patient cannot do without. For instance a tummy tuck in case of regular patients may be too look young and remove the extra flab but in case of an obese person suffering from ailment this melting down of fat can be for purely health reasons.

Whether a particular procedure is cosmetic or reconstructive plastic surgery can be decided only by the plastic surgeon and the exact purpose of the surgery. Make sure to check the term used for the surgery that you are undergoing as insurance companies pay whole or part of the amounts for reconstructive surgery but there is no reimbursement for cosmetic surgery. It is very important to know the difference between the two before you opt for any kind of procedures.

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