Reconstructive surgery gives patients a new lease on life. It helps them look younger, lose weight and achieve the physicality of their dreams. Besides aesthetics, there are many other reasons to consider reconstructive surgery, including accident rehabilitation, illness recovery and correction of birth defects. Veda Medical in Live Oak, TX, a suburb of San Antonio, provides reconstructive surgery that heals bodies and enhances lives.
14 Key Reasons Patients Seek Reconstructive Surgery
There are 14 key reasons people consider reconstructive surgery. Below we reveal why these 14 reasons are compelling to so many patients and the most popular procedures by age group.
Accident
Accidents are one of the most common reasons for reconstructive surgery. Plastic surgeons treat a wide variety of injuries that cause scarring, disfigurement and even deformities. Many injuries that require reconstructive surgery result from burns, vehicle crashes and sports injuries. In most cases, this type of reconstructive surgery is not considered elective or aesthetic, so insurance plans cover much of the cost.
For example, facial injuries from auto accidents often leave scars that mar the natural appearance. Reconstructive surgery can eliminate much of the scar tissue and restore skin to its former healthy look. Surgery can also treat deeper injuries that affect the bones of the face.
An accident can damage more than a person’s appearance. Injuries to the mouth or nose may cause serious functional issues with the sense of smell and the ability to communicate or eat. Surgeries that repair these devastating deformities restore function so patients can enjoy a high quality of life and reduce or eliminate disabilities.
Injuries to the extremities, such as hands and feet, are also common reasons for reconstructive procedures that re-align bone and tissue so they may function normally. There is no reason to suffer from disfigurement, scarring or the deformities that result from severe accidents. Plastic surgeons can repair the damage so patients can look and feel like they did before the accident happened.
Birth Defects
It’s heartbreaking when an infant is born with a deformity that limits future abilities. Thankfully, with modern surgical procedures, many birth defects are now correctable. A series of surgeries may be required, depending on the difficulty posed to the child. The benefits of surgery also improve self-image and self-confidence, which assists the child in healing the emotional toll of severe birth defects.
For example, a cleft lip or cleft palate are two very common birth defects. These conditions cause people to struggle with the formation of words, making communication a challenge, which can be very frustrating for young children who are just learning to talk. Surgery can fully correct many of these cases, allowing the child to form words normally and reducing or eliminating any communication disabilities.
Cancer
When cancer strikes, it changes lives even if the cancer goes into full remission. Often, the toll on the body includes the loss of physical aspects of ourselves. This loss can cause emotional turmoil.
For example, breast cancer may require a mastectomy, leaving the patient cured of the cancer but with physical changes she may not be happy with. Breast reconstruction surgery restores that part of the patient’s body so she can regain the physicality she had before cancer struck.
Skin Removal After Weight Loss
After losing substantial bodyweight, clients always feel relieved. Life is easier without the excess weight, health conditions like high blood pressure often go away and they look fit and healthy.
However, too much weight stretches the skin. Often when the weight is lost, the client is left with loose skin that hangs off the thinner skeletal frame. This skin is often unsightly and clients are eager to have it removed. Plastic surgery quickly removes this excess skin, allowing the patient to benefit fully from his or her weight loss success.
Post-Liposuction Skin Removal
Liposuction changes so many lives for the better. When excessive weight won’t respond to diet, exercise and other weight loss techniques, liposuction can quickly remove the troublesome fat and leave the patient happier, fitter and healthier. However, loose skin is usually left behind.
This loose skin is a normal side effect of liposuction. A plastic surgeon can remedy the problem with skin removal surgery. The results allow patients to look years younger while enjoying better health.
Physical Pain
While some women opt for breast augmentation, others suffer physical pain because of oversized breasts. Back pain, rashes and the inability to participate in some activities can have an adverse impact on life quality. A medically warranted breast reduction takes away these obstacles, allowing patients to enjoy a full and active life free from pain.
Some men also opt for breast reduction surgery. Oversized male breasts result from genetic problems that often manifest themselves during the teenage years. This can cause pain, inability to participate fully in many activities and social disability. Breast reduction allows these men to enjoy life with normal-sized male breasts.
Improved Appearance
Reconstructive surgery can alter the appearance of an area of the body the patient is unhappy with. Sometimes the area has a defect, while in other cases, the choice may be purely for aesthetic reasons. Medical conditions can also cause a change in the appearance that can be surgically corrected.
Reconstructive surgeries often involve bone grafting, bone replacement and possibly skin grafting. In the case of skin grafts, the new skin can come from the patient or a donor. Some cases require additional cosmetic surgeries to achieve the desired results.
Functional Restoration
While some surgeries are cosmetic, others are performed to restore function. Many surgeries that correct functional limitations involve the insertion of a prosthetic device. These implants are commonly placed in areas where mobility has become restricted, such as the arms, hands, legs or back. The design of the prosthetic devices allows for full integration with the body, resulting in smooth and natural movements, though it may take time and training for the patient to adjust.
Functional Restoration and Cosmetic Surgery
Other surgeries correct a functional limitation while also providing cosmetic benefits. For example, a person injured in a vehicle accident may require the insertion of a prosthetic device into the nose to improve functionality and also a skin graft to cover a scar.
A Non-Invasive Alternative
Often, especially after an accident or serious illness, damage to the body’s structure cannot be repaired by a non-invasive option. In these cases, reconstructive surgery is a must. For example, if the bones in the face have been weakened and distorted by a malignant cancer, reconstructive surgery may be the only way to reshape the bones to their natural appearance.
Enhanced Emotional Well-Being
Often, a body defect has a negative impact on emotional well-being that can hurt confidence. Just like dental work to fix bad teeth boosts many people’s confidence, cosmetic surgery can increase self-esteem and ensure better emotional health. In many cases, patients who suffer from physical defects become depressed and may feel isolated. Cosmetic surgery fixes the defect, allowing them to gain confidence and bloom socially.
Emotional well-being is an often overlooked component in physical health. For example, depression can weaken the immune system, leaving a person vulnerable to illness. Many doctors are fond of the expression, “A happy patient is a healthy patient,” and the link between depression and immunity shows why. Cosmetic surgery that boosts patients’ well-being provides long-term physical health benefits as well.
A Long-Term Solution
Many patients opt for reconstructive surgery because the results last. For example, a surgery that replaces or reconstructs bone provides permanent long-term results that aging or changes in body weight can’t compromise. The same lasting results apply to skin grafts that cover scars and other cosmetic procedures.
More Often Covered Than You Think
Many potential patients feel discouraged about reconstructive surgery because they believe their insurance provides no coverage for cosmetic procedures. While some purely aesthetic surgeries are typically not covered, many forms of reconstructive surgery are included in health insurance policies. These include post-accident restorative surgeries, procedures to correct functional limitations and birth defects and many others.
In fact, most reconstructive surgeries are covered partially by health insurance. If you have questions about whether a certain procedure is covered by insurance, inquire with Veda Medical.
Most Popular Plastic Surgeries by Age
Many people wonder what the most popular plastic surgeries are by age. Patients in their 20s usually have different needs and priorities than those in their 60s. Here’s a look at the most popular procedures for reconstructive surgery.
The 20s
For twentysomethings, breast augmentation for women tops the list. Many women wish to enhance their breast sizes to gain a more proportionate or curvy figure. In some cases, women and men undergo breast reduction surgery to gain better physical balance and proportionality.
The 30s
Liposuction ranks number one amongst thirtysomethings. At this stage of life, many peoples’ metabolism slows, making diet and exercise less effective at keeping off the extra pounds. In many cases, liposuction makes up the difference.
Thirtysomethings also favor facial injectables, such as neurotoxin injections and dermal fillers. These procedures combat the early signs of aging, such as thinning lips of flattening cheeks.
The 40s
Facial injections take the number one spot amongst fortysomethings. As we age, repetitive muscle movements result in overlying skin and fine lines. These processes can result in a permanently angry or worried look. Neurotoxin injections can reverse and prevent signs of aging by decreasing specific facial muscle movements.
The 50s and Beyond
Both men and women are responsible for making the facelift the most popular plastic surgery for those in their 50s and beyond. In this age group, people experience more wrinkles and fine lines. There is also a tendency to lose the volume and structure of facial features. To keep a more youthful appearance, many opt for a facelift, mini facelift or SoftLift. Fat grafting provides another option for enhancing facial volume. Eyelid- or brow lifts are also popular.
Are You Considering Reconstructive Surgery?
Reconstructive surgery technology continues to advance, providing superior results with less invasive procedures. Many Texans are taking advantage of these advances to look younger and be healthier. While looking younger is great, there are many other reasons to seek reconstructive surgery, including treating scars, accident injuries and birth defects.
There is no reason to settle for functional limitations that can be ameliorated by reconstructive surgery. Most are medically addressable conditions.
The most popular plastic surgeries continue to be breast augmentation, liposuction and facelifts. These procedures help clients live fuller lives. If you are considering reconstructive surgery, you may be surprised at how affordable it is, and your insurance may even cover some of the costs. To get started, call Veda Medical in Live Oak, TX for a new you.
