ABC of Plastic Surgery

According to Webster’s Dictionary, plastic surgery is a surgery that is connected with the restoration, repair, or improvement of the injured, lost, misshapen, or defective part of the body.

Some people hate the usage of the term ‘plastic’ as the word seems connected with superficiality, while others object to it, as they believe it to be the implantation of plastic body parts into human beings.

Although there can be truth in these explanations, the word plastic originally comes from the term ‘plastikos’ that means things that can be molded.


According to the website of The American Board of Plastic Surgery, plastic surgeries deal with repair, replacement, and reconstruction of any physical defects that may involve the skin, craniomaxillofacial structures, musculoskeletal system, hand or the surgery that deals with cosmetic enhancements.

Plastic surgeons can work in both improvement of personal appearance as well as in optimizing outcome of the reconstructive measures. Special knowledge as well as expertise may be deemed essential in case of surgery and designing of flaps and grafts, and knowledge on replantation or transfer of free tissues can be essential in this case.

Pathology, anatomy and physiology as well as other basic knowledge can be beneficial in this case. Competencies in plastic surgeries mean an amalgamation of the basic surgical as well as medical knowledge, technical expertise, operative judgment, impersonal skills, and ethical behaviour to facilitate problem resolution as well as patient satisfaction.

Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery

Plastic surgery is essentially classified into two types: reconstructive plastic surgery and cosmetic plastic surgery. The purposes of reconstructive surgeries lie in correcting physical features that are grossly deformed or not normal according to standard ethics.

It can be just a birth defect, illness, trauma or a congenital disorder. Reconstructive surgeries do not always address deformed appearances; it can also correct abnormalities or deficiencies in an individual.

Cosmetic surgery seeks improvement of the features of the patient on an aesthetic level. Patients may opt for cosmetic plastic surgery in case the patient is not suffering of any deformity.

Public Opinion: For and Against Plastic Surgery

Since some time, plastic surgeries are being viewed as a luxurious way of beautifying oneself. It actually has a social stigma attached with it, as it is concerned with going to great lengths for concealing surgical improvement.

There are individuals on both side of the debate on plastic surgeries. Some people who staunchly oppose plastic surgery and some take their position as loyal devotees of plastic surgery.

While the proponents of plastic surgery point out the benefits of plastic surgery and question the fact - that if we can do so many things to beautify ourselves, why not plastic surgery?

After all, although natural beauty is admired and respected, it is not exactly an achievement or even things that one can take credit for.

The opponents of plastic surgery, on the other hand, claim that, it is far more advisable to exhaust cash in improvement of our mind rather than exhausting it for the benefit of our bodies. There is also the argument that says, “That’s how God meant you to be.”

Are plastic surgeries right for you?

Plastic surgeries are definitely not designed for everybody. Plastic surgery definitely does not work in changing the personality of an individual; it just helps in altering a particular feature and look of an individual.

Conclusion


It is you, that is, the patient, who decides whether plastic surgeries are essential or not. While opting for a surgery, remember that although it can make you a little more confident or reduce self consciousness, it can never change your personality.

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