What is Plastic Surgery? 

The term "Plastic Surgery" comes from the Greek word "plastikos" which means to mould or give form. Plastic Surgery is a surgical speciality that uses medical and surgical techniques to correct deformities, defects, injuries and disease. Plastic surgeons have extensive surgical training and are experts in the management of complex medical problems of the face, head, neck, breasts, hands, arms and body.

The training of a plastic surgeon includes not only surgery but also patient management, communication skills, artistic talent, problem-solving ability and advanced knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics and psychology.

What is Plastic Surgery of the Skin?

Plastic surgery is a cosmetic surgery that can be used to repair or reshape facial or body parts that have been damaged by accidents, disease, birth defects, infections, skin issues or wounds. Plastic surgery can also be used to change and improve the appearance of the skin for cosmetic reasons.

The benefits of plastic surgery are limitless, but individuals choose it for different reasons. Some people choose to correct a birth defect that makes them feel self-conscious about their appearance. Others choose to look younger after years of sun damage. Many choose to reconstruct their bodies after accidents or cancer treatments.

The world of plastic surgery is extremely broad, but plastic surgeons are doctors who specialize in cosmetic surgery. They can help you look younger with anti-aging techniques, smoother with skin resurfacing techniques and gain self-confidence with breast augmentation, rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) and liposuction.

What are the Different Types of Skin Surgery?

The three type of skin surgery are:

1. Rhytidectomy: The surgery is typically performed on the face and neck to tighten the skin and remove excess wrinkles and aging effects.

2. Liposuction: The surgery is performed to remove excess fat under the chin (double chin) or near the neck.

3. Facial implants: This surgery is used to make certain structures of the face more prominent and well defined like the cheeks, lips and chin.

4. Septoplasty: This surgery is performed on the nose in which the cartilage and bone are rebuilt to reshape and improve the appearance of the nose.

5. Blepharoplasty: This surgery is performed on the upper/lower eyelids to improve the appearance of the eyes.

6. Browlift: This is the surgery wherein the forehead wrinkles and droopy eyebrows are altered.

Can You Get Plastic Surgery For Your Skin?

There is an emerging branch of cosmetic surgery that allows plastic surgeons to do things that were previously unimaginable, like sculpting someone’s skin using their stamp. It is called skin grafting and it is all possible thanks to advancements in technology like custom-made stamps, which are used to literally stamp your skin to create the perfect pattern.

The process itself is quite complicated. First, surgeons extract the fat cells from the body of the patient, keeping in mind its ideal shape, size and colour. Then the cells are used to create a mould of the theme on the computer. After this, a stamp with the required design is created by pressing it onto silicon and then transferred into fibreglass. Gold leafing is then done on the surface of the stamp to give it a golden shine.

If you're concerned about the health of your skin, it's worth considering the possibility of following the lead of other countries and having skin surgery. The answer isn't as simple as it may sound; it depends on the condition of your skin. Also, remember one thing: it's important to always see your dermatologist first.

For someone who has severe scarring, like keloids which are overgrown scars, or someone with a dangerous skin condition such as severe forms of psoriasis, the answer is yes. Your dermatologist will likely recommend a wide variety of treatments from milder ones such as topical steroids to more invasive ones such as skin grafting, which includes taking healthy skin from one part of your body and transplanting it to another area that needs healthy skin.

How to Prepare Yourself Before Skin Surgery?

Depending on the issues and your body type, certain facial plastic surgery might put you at a higher risk of experiencing nausea, numbness, bleeding, blood clots, infections and adverse reactions to the anesthesia. 

If you are a smoker, you should avoid smoking for two weeks before your plastic surgery in order to optimize the healing process following your surgery.

Usually, a plastic surgery does not require you to stay in the hospital for long. So, depending on the severity of your surgery, some procedures can be completed on an outpatient basis and some may require you to stay at the hospital for one one night or maybe a whole day.

Either way, before you are discharged from the hospital, your surgeon will examine your skin and discuss with you regarding some special precautions and skincare tips that you need to follow for a speedy recovery.

Your surgeon will give you instructions regarding your diet and some daily activities. You might also need to take some medications and avoid some others for a few days.

Most people post a plastic surgery, return to their work within two weeks following the procedure. 

Take Away

Plastic surgery is a medical procedure offered by plastic surgeons to improve the appearance of individuals. It is also used to reconstruct parts of the body harmed by injury, disease or birth defects.

Although plastic surgery is designed to improve the shape and structure of various parts of the body, most people would be shocked to learn that one can get any and all of their skin issues treated through plastic surgery.

With that said, be sure to see your dermatologist.