Today, modern society is continuously changing and evolving. Cosmetic procedures are becoming common in recent times. As more and more people, especially teens, are trying to fit into the perfect notions of society, they are opting for plastic surgery procedures. Here, the word “plastic surgery” is always looked at under a negative spotlight.
The general public tends to think that patients who undergo a plastic procedure end up with a body that is not natural. Though this notion may be correct in some cases, it is not always true. In fact, the name plastic is taken from the Greek word plastikos, referring to form or mould. So, plastic surgery helps patients shape their bodies for a better purpose. However, the term is looked at as a bad one due to the negative publicity. It is often associated with the entertainment industry and actors who try to maintain their bodies, age, and skin changes.
Actors try to reduce their breast size or reshape their nose, lips, etc., to fit into society’s preference of physical appearance. But when we look at the other side, i.e., a patient trying to rebuild their body parts or accidents, we can get a clearer picture. Let us look at the importance of plastic surgery and why many people do it.
What is plastic surgery?
Plastic surgery is a special surgery that eliminates a person’s imperfections. In other words, it is a procedure that changes a person’s appearance and ability to function. Traditionally, its only motive is to repair the damaged parts of a patient’s body. A person of any age may get plastic surgery done after an accident, animal bite, or physical injury. However, today, most teens do it to enhance their external appearance. Hence, cosmetic surgical methods dominate the globe and are drifting away from the actual need for plastic surgery. Therefore, the concept is divided into two parts:
- Reconstructive procedures: Reconstructive surgery is a type of plastic surgery that corrects defects in the body. Defects or problems in the body may occur due to traumatic injuries, congenital physical disabilities, and aftermath disease treatments. In any case, the reconstructive procedure corrects the imperfections in a human body.
- Cosmetic surgery: It deals with the treatment of morphological alterations. Cosmetic surgery is different from reconstructive surgery because it does not deal with medical conditions. The surgery is mostly performed to enhance a person’s physical appearance. And in many cases, the body doesn’t need to go through such a cutting process. Yet, people do it even with pain and get problems after the surgical procedures.
Why is plastic surgery necessary?
In simple terms, plastic surgery improves the conditions of the human body. Though the cosmetic appearance of a patient increases, plastic surgeries mainly improve breathing, skin conditions, jaw functioning, and many more. The medicinal conditions which require plastic surgeries are
- Craniofacial surgery
Craniofacial surgery is done to treat children who are born with congenital physical disabilities. Their bodies are not formed completely or have some imperfections at the birth stage. So, this kind of plastic surgery corrects cleft palates and cleft lips. Thus, craniofacial surgery reduces a child’s ear infections, speech difficulties, and dental problems. It also addresses rare congenital and genetic anomalies like craniosynostosis, Apert syndrome, Crouzon syndrome, and Pfeiffer syndrome.
- Reconstructive surgery
A plastic surgeon helps fix a person’s physical appearance that is spoilt due to an injury or disease. After an injury, a person’s appearance may change due to heavy impact. It will make him lose his self-confidence, thus leading to low self-esteem in society. In order to eliminate it, cosmetic procedures are done to fix the face, arm, shoulders, or any part to its original appearance. This reconstructive surgery may appear as a similar cosmetic procedure in some cases. However, the need is real, and it improves a person’s health condition.
- Correction of a deviated septum
This is a condition in which the thin wall (nasal septum) is off-center. It means that the wall is displaced and deviated to one side. It causes infections and severe breathing problems. Some people are born with the disease, and others develop over time due to nosebleeds or injuries. In any case, the deviated septum has to be corrected. And it is often combined with a plastic surgery procedure to ensure the shape of the nose does not change after the surgery.
- Breast reduction and reconstruction
Breasts that are unnaturally large or in disproportionate condition can cause physical strain. It often results in back problems and can be corrected with a plastic reduction technique. Also, after a mastectomy, breast reconstruction helps a woman heal and feel ‘normal’ after breast cancer.
Conclusion
Plastic surgery is often associated with cosmetic changes and appearances in the body. People want to enhance their physical appearance and often go under the knife. However, plastic surgery is not just related to enhancing body features but also improving functions. A reconstructive surgical procedure will correct defects in the body and reduces pain. Craniofacial surgery, breast reduction, repair of the deviated septum are all examples of medical conditions which need plastic surgery. They are done for the better health condition of a patient.