The Plastic Surgeon: Reconstructing and Molding

Plastic surgery initially came to be as a means to make new parts of the body deemed disfigured or found to be unsightly as a result of injury. Skin grafts were among the first procedures used and involved the transplantation of skin from one body part to another. Operation on a cleft palate was the first procedure performed, dating back over 180 years ago, though the results were, quite obviously, not as advanced as what is performed these days. War in the early 20th century brought about the most prominent changes in this field, with soldiers returning from home with disfigured bodies.

Reconstructive surgery has maintained its utility in recent years, and the areas covered are significantly broader than what once existed. In spite of modern medical advances, this is still viewed as a particularly serious surgery, and often involves a stay at a hospital.

In modern cosmetic surgery, common operations include breast work, nose jobs and liposuction. Many cosmetic surgeries are not grouped with reconstructive surgeries in terms of severity or invasiveness, and may simply be same day operations that can be obtained through a skilled plastic surgeon.

A plastic surgeon will commonly specialize in a particular field of cosmetic surgery, but many offer a wide variety of services. One particularly popular focus for surgeons is breast augmentation. Surgeons who specialize here may perform reconstructive surgeries for patients following a mastectomy, while other patients may simply seek these services for personal reasons. A benefit of specialization is the optimization of technique that results in higher quality and seamless integration into the patient's body. Newer patients can ask a plastic surgeon for examples of his or her work and view before and after photographs to determine if the results are satisfactory enough to pursue an operation with the surgeon's practice.

As a certified board physician, a plastic surgeon is required to complete medical school, a three-year residency as well as another three-year residency specifically in plastic surgery before receiving board certification in order to open an independent practice. While there are many medical boards specializing in plastic surgery, each board has its own requirements for certification. Regardless of how many certifications the individual practitioner has, a plastic surgeon must have some form of board certification in order to do any procedure, even nonsurgical types.

The field of plastic surgery has significantly broadened its scope since the early days, and is becoming more commonly used by average citizens. The stigma of “having work done” by a doctor has begun to lessen, and with advances in procedures and modern technology, it has become easier to have such an operation performed than ever before.