Every medical procedure has pros and cons, including plastic surgery. What are the benefits and risks of this action?
What is plastic surgery? What are the benefits?
Plastic surgery is an action performed to change a person's appearance or help restore the body's ability to function. The term "plastic" is actually not related to plastic materials, but from the Greek "plasticos" which means "to form".
Actually, plastic surgery can be in the form of cosmetic (aesthetic) and reconstructive surgery. As the name implies, reconstructive surgery aims to correct defects in body parts. The defect can be formed from birth or by accident.
Surgery or reconstructive surgery is performed for medical reasons. There are many diseases that are treated with reconstructive surgery, including oral cancer and hand injuries.
Meanwhile, cosmetic surgery is done to improve one's physical appearance, from the head to the legs. The type can also vary, such as facelift or rhytidectomy (removal of wrinkles on the face), breast enlargement, to rhinoplasty or nose-job (to beautify the nose). Despite the name aesthetic surgery, not all of these actions involve "surgery".
The risks of plastic surgery must be considered
Every type of surgery and surgery has risks, including plastic surgery. Before deciding to undergo this surgery, you also need to understand the risks that lurk. Some of them are:
- Nerve damage
In some cases of surgery, the risk of nerve damage can occur, including when undergoing plastic surgery. This complication most clearly occurs in the facial nerve which makes it difficult for you to give facial expressions. Even the eyes that look droop are at risk.
The majority of cases of nerve damage due to plastic surgery can be treated, although some are permanent damage.
- Scarring is formed
Scarring often results in surgical procedures, including plastic surgery. Of course this can interfere with people who experience it because the purpose of cosmetic surgery is to improve one's aesthetics.
Patients can reduce the risk of this scarring, by not smoking postoperatively, eating healthy foods, and following the doctor's directions.
- Infection
Infection is a common complication of plastic surgery. One of them is cellulitis infection which is an infection of the skin.
In some cases, postoperative plastic infections can occur in the inner body and become severe. This condition will require intravenous antibiotics.
- Bleeding
Any operation risks bleeding. If not controlled, bleeding can cause a decrease in blood pressure with the risk of death.
The bleeding can occur during the operation or postoperative process. Bleeding after plastic surgery can be caused by patients who are too actively moving.
- Hematoma
A hematoma is a collection of blood that forms outside the blood vessels and sometimes causes pain. Hematomas are common in almost all types of operations, such as facelift or breast enlargement.
- Seroma
Seroma is similar to hematoma, which is a collection of lymphatic fluid on the surface of the skin. This condition can cause swelling and pain. This risk can also occur in all surgeries, including plastic abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery.
If the fluid collection is large enough, the doctor will get rid of the fluid using a needle. This step is effective in treating postoperative seroma, although there is still a risk that the collection of fluids will reappear.
- Blood clots
The formation of blood clots is a common risk in many medical procedures, including plastic surgery. One type of lump is deep vein thrombosis that forms in the leg area.
Blood clots must be treated by a doctor, even though in many cases it is not life threatening. Clots can be deadly if blood clots move through the veins toward the heart and lungs.
- Plastic surgery failed
Being a scourge for patients undergoing cosmetic surgery, results of surgery that are not as desired can still occur. Not only failed to provide an increase in physical appearance, the results of this operation can also be worse than before.
- Complications of anesthesia
Anesthesia or anesthesia is an action to make the patient lose consciousness some time, so that patients do not feel during the operation. These complications can include lung infections, strokes, heart attacks, to death.
- Death
Yes, every surgery risks causing death of the patient. Although this risk may be small, it is very likely that the patient died while undergoing surgery.
Complications due to reactions from anesthetic drugs are the most common cases of death due to surgery.
Reducing the risk of plastic surgery, how?
The best way to reduce the risk of plastic surgery is to be careful when choosing a doctor. Make sure you choose a doctor and clinic that is trusted, licensed, and has a good reputation.
You are also advised to adopt a healthy lifestyle before and after surgery, including eating healthy foods and not smoking.
For the record, non-smokers will recover faster after undergoing surgery. The risk of scarring is also smaller. Some plastic surgeons also do not want to operate if the patient is smoking. In addition to the tips above, you are advised to heed these suggestions if you are already determined to undergo plastic surgery:
- Make your own decisions and don't want to be persuaded by others.
- Educate yourself about the procedure you want and consider all the pros and cons.
- Note the risks and limitations, the article there are several plastic operations that are carried out in stages.
- Choose the right time to undergo plastic surgery. Avoid times that also require thinking, such as when changing jobs, grieving, postpartum, or moving house.
- Avoid forced cosmetic surgery decisions just to please others, including your partner.
- If the plastic surgery clinic is far from domicile, make sure you have reviewed the costs and other matters related to travel.
Overall, the risk of plastic surgery is indeed rare. Even so, complications of this action are common in smokers, the elderly, and people who are overweight.
Before undergoing plastic surgery, make sure you choose a doctor and clinic that is trusted and has good credibility. Also discuss your risks and considerations with your doctor, who can help you control your expectations and reduce the risk of complications from this surgery.