Plastic Surgeons Reconstruct And Mold

The field of plastic surgery was first developed as reconstructive surgery to correct disfigurements or injuries. Although the practice had been around for centuries, most early cosmetic surgeries involved skin grafts, a surgical technique that involves removing skin from one part of the body and placing it on another part. The first American plastic surgery was performed in 1827 to correct a cleft palate.

Cosmetic surgery as a specialty evolved tremendously in the 20th century after soldiers came home from war with disfiguring facial injuries. Since then, reconstructive surgeries are still popular, with breast reduction, tumor removal, and laceration repair being the most popular procedures. This type of plastic surgery is typically more invasive, and requires general anesthesia, as well as a hospital stay to recover.

Today, there are a variety of cosmetic surgeries that are beyond the scope of reconstructing a disfigured face. The most popular surgeries include breast augmentation, liposuction, and rhinoplasty. Unlike reconstructive surgeries, a number of cosmetic surgeries are not considered major surgery, and most are outpatient procedures. These procedures have developed to include non-surgical techniques that do not require making incisions or anesthesia and are performed by plastic surgeons; laser treatments and botox injections are also considered cosmetic surgery, although they are less invasive.

While some doctors are qualified to perform a number of procedures, most tend to develop their skills in one particular procedure. Breast augmentation is one such field where plastic surgeons may chose to focus specifically on this one procedure. Within this very popular field of breast augmentation, a surgeon can then chose to perform reconstructive surgeries for patients who have had a mastectomy, or purely cosmetic surgeries. By focusing on one specific procedure, a doctor can develop their skills and create more natural looking results. Most, if not all, surgeons will provide before and after photos of their former patients to demonstrate to newer patients what they can expect with a certain doctor's skill set.

Plastic surgeons are certified board physicians. These specialists are required to attend medical school, complete a three-year residency program and another three-year plastic surgery residency before they can receive their board certifications and practice independently. There are a number of medical boards that specialize in plastic surgery, and each has different requirements; while some doctors are certified by one board, others chose to seek certification from each one. Plastic surgeons are still required to have board certifications to perform even non-surgical procedures.

Since the development of the first surgical techniques, plastic surgery has developed into a broad field of medicine that covers patients in need of reconstructive procedures or for those seeking to erase signs of aging, or to augment a specific body feature.