So many people use the words “plastic surgery” and “cosmetic surgery” when talking about changes in body parts or appearance of a person. These words frequently and conversely get thrown around when referring to surgeries that physically change the individual’s appearance. But are they really just one and the same? This couldn’t be further from the truth. There are subtle nuances that distinguish cosmetic surgery from reconstructive surgery and the line is so thin, it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference, but the variance does exist.
Cosmetic surgery is basically a surgery procedure with a goal of improving form. It is changing the shape of your body to look and feel better.
In cosmetic surgery, the choice on whether to undergo the procedure or not is given entirely to the patient. The procedure is not compelling or medically necessary to improve the physical well-being of the person. Repair to a body part or improvement to the patient’s health has nothing to do with cosmetic surgery and are not considerations to the decision for undergoing the process; the whole point of the procedure is purely aesthetic in nearly all cases. Cosmetic surgery is performed for psychological reasons where the patient needs to have his or her body altered to give or regain self-confidence.
Reconstructive surgery is commonly done in order to restore the body’s normal form or shape and function that may have been compromised by traumatic conditions, accidents, disease or congenital defects. The principal purpose of reconstructive surgery is to rehabilitate a particular part of the body that has undergone some trauma or disease and restore the damaged part to its prior physical condition and functionality. Reconstructive surgery can be done to treat congenital anomalies such as a cleft lip or palate, joined or extra fingers or toes, abnormal positioning of the opening of the male urethra and for abnormalities of the ear or jaws.
Although categorized into either reconstructive or cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery procedures have no clear-cut distinction between the two. Rhinoplasty is one of the surgeries than can be categorized as reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery. For some people, difficulty in breathing relates to damaged air passage ways. Obstructions can develop over time. Correcting the problem usually requires thorough medical examination followed by rhinoplasty surgery. However, a rhinoplasty procedure can alter the appearance of the nose including decreasing or increasing the size, altering the tip or bridge of the nose, and narrowing or changing the shape of the nostrils, which can all be classified as cosmetic surgery.
You can probably say that this delicate distinction is more on the aim and objective for undergoing the procedure. Cosmetic surgery is fundamentally with a goal of improving form; of changing the shape of some parts for the gratification of the patient; while reconstructive surgery aims to help people regain function and control.
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