subject: Breast Reconstruction And Cosmetic Surgery [print this page] The difference between breast reconstruction and cosmetic surgery for the breasts are not so well defined. In spite of this, many instinctively know the difference between the two. Doctors for both procedures may be the same people but there are also some surgeons who prefer to stick to cosmetic operations and others prefer reconstructive ones.
Cosmetic Operation
This kind of procedure is usually an enhancement that the patient wants to have. There are many different types of surgeries that are associated with the chest. Some use implants to improve on the current state while others employ different techniques to enhance them. There are two basic kinds of implants that can be used for both breast reconstruction and plastic surgery. These are saline and silicone.
Both are sacs of substances that are used to flesh out the area. They come in different shapes, sizes and sometimes textures to fulfill the needs of every woman who wants the operation. Other kinds of operations aimed at improving or enhancing a woman's chest appearance are lifts and reductions. Lifting consists of altering a decidedly droopy bosom into better shape and form. There is no actual need for using implants when doing this but it can also be done. Reduction is the procedure in which the surgeon lessens the size and mass of the woman's or man's breasts.
Reconstructive Surgery
Breast reconstruction entails recreating one or both of the breasts after a patient has undergone a mastectomy. The goal here is not to have perfect looking bosoms but to actually have them. A mastectomy is a surgical procedure in which a woman needs to have one or both of her breasts removed due to factors which include cancer, diseases, trauma and others.
The actual removal of these parts can be very mentally traumatic and devastating for many women. These are, after all, one of the things that primarily make them a woman, different from the men. Usually in a mastectomy, even the mammary glands are removed, rendering a woman unable to breastfeed. Although, breast reconstruction will not be able to return this ability to the woman, the basic form and shape of a woman's chest can be restored. Sensitivity may be restored but can be greatly affected after reconstructive surgery in this area. Scarring or lines from incisions may also be quite visible for many of the patients since extensive surgery is done.
Both operations can be done by the same doctors but the doctors themselves may set limits. Many plastic surgeons prefer to stay within the realm of cosmetic surgery while reconstructive surgeons also do the same. The basic difference between the two procedures is the extent of the surgery that is done to the patient. In breast reconstruction, the donation of skin and some tissues may be necessary to form and reshape the missing breasts. These can be taken from various sites of the patient's body such as the back and the buttocks. It is an entirely different procedure to create a skin flap that will enable the development of extra skin to accommodate the reconstructive operation for the bosoms.
