Plastic surgery (Plastische Chirurgie) is a major type of surgery that is common over most of the world. There are many different sub-strands of plastic surgery that address the many different surgical needs and wants of patients. The first major division is between the fields of cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery. Both of these fields are further sub divided into multiple techniques and procedures that are applied in many different ways and for a variety of reasons. Everything from facelifts to hand reconstruction can be grouped under the term plastic surgery.
Reconstructive surgery is generally performed in order to correct functional impairments while cosmetic surgery is generally performed in order to enhance or change a person’s physical appearance. There can be confusion regarding terminology as the broad term plastic surgery includes the fields of cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery. There are a number of health issues relating to plastic surgical techniques, with the different fields of surgery having unique issues and risks that are particular to the type of surgery being applied.
The health issues relating to the many strands of reconstructive surgery are quite different from those relating to cosmetic surgery. In reconstructive plastic surgery the surgeon is generally attempting to improve the function of the area being operated on. This has a direct positive impact on the health of a patient, as these procedures are attempting to get a patient to a more functional and full physical state. The issues relating to health and cosmetic surgery however are not quite so clear cut.
Cosmetic surgery procedures should not be undertake lightly by anyone as they can change the life of a person in a dramatic way. Whether this change is in a positive or a negative way has a lot to do on the patient, the surgeon and the patients reasons for undergoing cosmetic surgery in the first place. Some people put a lot of psychological pressure on themselves because of issues relating to their appearance. In these circumstances the use of cosmetic surgery may be able to directly and positively impact on a person’s mental health and their attitude towards life in general. However before a person undergoes any cosmetic surgery both the surgeon and the patient need to be sure that the end result will have a positive impact on the health of the patient.
A person may have underlying psychological conditions that can not be changed for the better due to undergoing cosmetic surgery. In these cases it is important that either the patient or the surgeon realise this before surgery takes place. As well as the potential psychological benefits and traumas that can result from plastic surgery, there are also issues relating to physical health and surgical risks. Most people however have a positive outcome to their surgery and may enjoy more confidence and a better emotional outlook on life. The mind and body are connected on many levels and by changing their physical appearance some people manage to improve their mental and emotional health.
There are a number of different cosmetic plastic surgical procedures, and each has different potential risks and benefits. A facelift may be able to give a person a more confident outlook on life but also has risks relating to the surgery itself. Likewise, a nose job or breast surgery operation may have a great emotional benefit for the patient due to a more balanced and proportional physical presence. A lot of the health issues relating to plastic surgery tend to be focused around the possible physical, emotional and mental benefits which contrasts with a small risk that is involved in order to achieve these benefits through surgery.