Plastic Surgery – A Solution After Illness or Injury

It is pretty stereotypical to assume that everyone who has plastic surgery is beauty conscious or vain. While there certainly are plenty of men and women who have cosmetic procedures performed just to modify their otherwise healthy bodies, there are many people who have surgical procedures to repair damage from illness or injury. A woman may have breast reconstruction after surviving cancer. A man may have skin grafts done after being injured as a firefighter. Lots of people come to cosmetic surgeons for many reasons.

Plastic surgery literally means to “sculpt flesh”. Doctors in this profession make their living by taking a patient and making aesthetic changes to the face, breasts, abdomen and nearly every other body part. It really is a medical marvel that these types of procedures have become so advanced. When cosmetic surgery became popular in the United States, the primary focus was to help soldiers who had been injured in war. As scientific advancements have been made, procedures have been refined and risks have been lessened.

Cosmetic procedures are not necessarily the best answer for everyone. Generally, you need to be a healthy individual. If you are recovering from a severe illness (like Cancer) you need to wait until your health has returned before you consider any kind of elective surgical procedure. While plastic surgery is generally safe, there are always risks involved when surgical procedures are performed. If you are not healthy, your body is much more susceptible to infection, and no one’s life is worth losing over an elective surgical enhancement.

Many types of plastic surgery are covered after illness or injury. However, if your insurance does not cover the type of procedure you need or want, you need to consider the costs involved. Many doctors will offer payment plans or other financial incentives, but you need to have a clear picture of costs before you consent to any surgical measures. You also may need special referrals or mediation by your doctor on your behalf with the insurance company. It is helpful to understand what is covered so that you are not surprised with bills while you are recovering from the operation.

Plastic surgery is not the answer for every single situation, but it is for many. With technological advancements and innovative procedures, your recovery should not take as long as those war veterans and you should be back to living your life in a relatively short amount of time.