Decoding What Your Plastic Surgeon is Saying
Plastic surgery has generated a lot of hype and speculation almost since its inception. The field grew exponentially in the 90’s and has continued to make amazing new advancements in both techniques and technology in the past decade. This world can be very exciting, but it can also seem very intimidating to someone looking to get into it. In a way, it’s almost like learning to speak a new language. If you’re looking to become a plastic surgery patient, this can be a little off-putting. When you browse through plastic surgery websites like this one and learn more about plastic surgeons, you can learn how to decode what they’re saying within these different categories.
Plastic Surgery
The term “plastic surgery” carries a lot of different connotations depending on whom you’re speaking with. The actual definition of plastic surgery according to Merriam-Webster is “surgery that improves or repairs the form or appearance of body parts”. There are several different types of plastic surgery, including:
- Cosmetic – This type of plastic surgery involves changing the way something looks or appears on a person. Almost any part of the body can be surgically altered to look different, though cosmetic plastic surgery typically deals with the face and the torso.
- Reconstructive – There are plastic surgery patients who don’t want to change how they look, but they need help getting their body to function normally or to recover after serious trauma. For example, a patient who snores a lot might have trouble with the way their nose is structured, or a burn victim might have severe scarring on their face. Both of these problems can be improved through reconstructive plastic surgery without needing to actually change the way the nose or face looks.
- Facial – Some surgeons choose to specialize in facial plastic surgery, meaning that they only perform surgery on the head, face, and neck.
Plastic Surgeons
Any plastic surgeon worth their salt will have some sort of bio that describes their training, qualifications, and experience. These bios are important because they let the patient learn more about potential doctors in order to make an informed decision about their surgery. A lot of bios use similar terms, including:
- Fellowship – After completing college and medical school, a doctor becomes a resident at a hospital or medical center to gain additional training and experience. The residency typically lasts between three and five years. Once the residency is complete, doctors have the option of pursuing a fellowship, which is a specialty program designed to train doctors in one specific field or area. This additional training allows doctors to become more of an expert in their field. A lot of plastic surgeons have completed a fellowship through different qualified agencies, such as the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
- Board certification – In the United States, doctors in any medical field have to be board certified, which means that they have undergone a rigorous study program and sat through an exam given by other qualified doctors. Any plastic surgeon worth your consideration should have at least this present on their resume.
- Specialist – Some plastic surgeons become a specialist, which means they have chosen to receive additional training in a specific procedure or set of procedure. For example, a rhinoplasty specialist is a plastic surgeon extremely well-trained and qualified in nose jobs.
Plastic Surgery Procedures
There are a wide variety of plastic surgery procedures available to patients all over the country. Some are surgical while others are nonsurgical, some are geared towards the face while others focus on the body, and some have a shorter recovery period. Each procedure is different and there are different ways for surgeons to perform each one. There are a few terms, though, that are common among these procedures.
- Graft – These are commonly used in facial plastic surgery in procedures like rhinoplasty and facial fat transfers. A graft is a material that comes from one area of the patient’s body and is then relocated to another area of the same patient. The materials used in grafts can be fat deposits, cartilage, and even bone.
- Implant – Implants are also used frequently in plastic surgery. Unlike grafts, the materials used in an implant are synthetic and come in a predetermined shape and size. The implants are inserted into different areas of the body to add volume, provide structure, and create the necessary shape.
- Open vs. closed surgery – Most procedures in plastic surgery are open surgery, which means that the surgeon uses an incision to open up the body and directly access the internal structures. There are some procedures, however, where surgeons can use a closed surgical technique in which there are no external incisions. This technique is not nearly as common as it can only be used in specific cases.
- Initial vs. full recovery – Recovery from plastic surgery is a process that can take months or even years. When your surgeon is talking about your initial recovery, they mean the amount of time it could take you to get back to your normal routines. This isn’t the same as a full recovery, which means that your body has completely healed from the procedure.
Ask Your Questions!
Are there still terms that baffle you or seem a little confusing? The best way for you to get a better understanding of the plastic surgery world is to discuss it with an actual plastic surgeon. Asking questions keeps you informed and helps you choose the best plastic surgeon for you. Looking at plastic surgery before and after photos also gives you a visual representation for each procedure and what they can do for you.
Schedule an in-person or virtual consultation with the doctors at Spalding Drive Plastic Surgery, including world famous plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Nassif, to learn more about plastic surgery and the different plastic surgery procedures available to you. You can schedule this consultation by calling (310) 275-2467 or through the contact page.