Reconstructive Surgery

What is reconstructive surgery?

Reconstructive surgery is plastic surgery performed by plastic surgeons for people who have conditions that may have been present since birth – including a cleft lip and palate, protruding ears or a crooked smile. In other cases, reconstructive surgery is performed after accidents, mastectomies, burns, and other traumatic events.

Why should I or my loved ones consider getting reconstructive surgery?

Beyond the facial reconstruction needs mentioned above, you or your loved one should consider getting reconstructive surgery if you have any of the following issues:

Nose issues. Through rhinoplasty or septoplasty, a plastic surgeon can restructure and reshape the nose to improve appearance and function.

Eyelids. A blepharoplasty involves having surgery of the upper or lower eyelids to improve function or the look of the eye.

Facial implants. A plastic surgeon can make certain structures of your face more prominent and full, such as the cheeks, lips or chin.

Ear insecurities. Through a otoplasty, an plastic surgeon can reshape the cartilage of the ears so they protrude less.

Did you know?

A long-term study found having reconstructive surgery might help people stop smoking. This is because specialists typically tell their patients not to smoke at least two weeks prior to their surgery to avoid complications, which forces them to go “cold turkey.” ¹

What are the risks of reconstructive surgery?

All surgeries carry some degree of risk, and reconstructive surgery is no different. The risks associated with reconstructive surgery can include:

• Infection
• Excessive bleeding
• Trouble with wound healing
• Bruising
• Surgery problems
• Anesthesia problems

How should I or my loved one prepare for the appointment?

When you or your loved one are preparing for an appointment with a plastic surgeon to discuss reconstructive surgery, you should remember to:

• Come up with a list of all the questions and concerns you may have and bring them to discuss
• Have an in-depth conversation with the plastic surgeon about whether or not you’re a good candidate for reconstructive surgery. You need to fully understand the procedure, the recovery timeline, and the realistic outcomes before you can truly make this decision.

What can I expect during reconstructive surgery?

You and your plastic surgeon will discuss the goals of your reconstructive surgery beforehand. You will most likely be under general anesthesia throughout your surgery. The different reconstructive options range from local tissue rearrangement, sometimes called “flaps,” to skin grafts, to more aggressive transfer of skin, bone, and cartilage to achieve the results.

What happens after my reconstructive surgery?

After you have had reconstructive surgery, a family member or caregiver will need to bring you home for rest.

You will likely feel some pain or general discomfort once any pain medications start to wear off, and if you underwent general anesthesia you may feel nauseous.

You will probably also experience some bruising and swelling, which is the body’s natural response to surgeries and the healing process. Depending on which part of your face you have surgery on, you could also have black eyes.

Make sure to pay attention to the surgery site to look out for any signs of infection or any other complication.

[1] Wolters Kluwer Health. “Cosmetic surgery may help patients quit smoking.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 29 August 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170829164552.htm>