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What You Need to Know About Reconstructive Plastic Surgery

Reviewed by Walter Erhardt, MD

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The number of reconstructive plastic surgery patients has increased 34 percent over the past ten years.

In 2005, the most common procedures were tumor removal, laceration repair, scar revision, hand surgery, breast reduction and maxillofacial surgery (according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons).

Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Defined

Plastic surgery is derived from the Greek word plastikos, meaning to mold, mend, or restore. Reconstructive surgery repairs the function and appearance of a specific body-part or feature defect. There are three main reasons why reconstructive plastic surgery may be appropriate:

  • medical reasons
  • birth defects or deformities that may inhibit daily living activities
  • traumatic injury

Medical Reasons for Reconstructive Surgery

Reconstructive surgery is often performed to treat or prevent medical conditions. For example, the largest number of reconstructive procedures performed by plastic surgeons is for the treatment of tumors. Tumor removal may include a surgical biopsy of the tumor, removal of the tumor (including warts), or the removal of a malignant tumor. These procedures focus on treating an unappealing appearance or on preventing the internal spread of the disease.

The removal of skin cancer on a particular area often requires complex reconstruction that includes rebuilding the affected area. The treatment plan may integrate skin flap or skin grafting procedures as well. Other areas of the body that might need flap or graft reconstruction include the nose, lips, cheeks, and ears. For example, skin cancer of the nose may create a defect so large or deep that complex reconstructive surgery is the only solution.

Certain craniofacial deformities, including deformities of the nose, have been known to contribute to sleep apnea and sinus disease. Sleep apnea, which affects more than 14 million people in the United States, is categorized by excessive snoring whereby oxygen levels are impeded during sleep. The sleep apnea disorder contributes to heart disease and strokes, among other medical conditions. Sinus diseases are more likely to affect people with narrowed nasal passages that prevent the regular flow of air and mucous through the nose. The consequences of certain medical conditions may require plastic reconstructive procedures such as rhinoplasty, cheek implants or a facelift.

Other reconstructive-surgery patients include breast cancer survivors. Many survivors seek reconstructive breast surgery to rebuild the breast area after breast cancer surgery. On the other hand, women with large breasts may seek breast reduction surgery to relieve back pain.

Repair of the jaw or chin may be necessary to relieve dental conditions such as TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint). TMJ causes a spasm in the jaw muscle which can lock the jaw, inhibit eating, and cause significant facial pain.

Birth Defects or Deformities

Birth defects and deformities that inhibit daily activities fall under the reconstructive category as well. For example, the chin or jaw may require surgical repair if the formation of the jaw and chin affects facial movement or eating. Reconstructive surgery on the upper and lower jaw may be required to create a dental arch alignment. Cleft lips and palates may inhibit eating and speaking skills. Other problems that fall into the defect category include ears that extend in an outward appearance or appear otherwise malformed. This defect may present social problems, particularly for teens. The otoplasty procedure is one of the most common reconstructive procedures among teens.

Patients who have naturally lost an excessive amount of weight or who have undergone the gastric bypass procedure may require reconstructive plastic surgery procedures to remove excess skin, loosened muscles, or residual localized areas of body fat. These procedures include panniculectomy, abdominoplasty, liposuction, facelift, blepharoplasty, and neck lift. For example, obese patients who receive the gastric bypass procedure may undergo the panniculectomy procedure to remove an apron of skin that can extend as low as the knees.

Traumatic Injury

Traumatic injury may also lead to reconstructive surgery. Dog bites and vehicle accidents can cause serious unappealing lacerations, bony injuries, facial fractures of the jaw or cheek, hand injuries, or trauma to the upper and lower extremity. Burn victims may also require reconstructive surgery.

Traumatic injuries may be treated by select emergency-room staff who have the most day-to-day experience in emergency injury care. However, if you, your family members, or the emergency-room staff feel uncomfortable with the complexity of injuries, then ER staff members will request a plastic surgeon and other specialists to develop the initial treatment plan.

Following injury, one of the most common procedures performed by plastic surgeons is the bony repair of the facial skeleton, hand, and upper and lower extremities. Injuries may also require repair of facial fractures to the jaw or cheek. Plastic surgeons often need to repair soft-tissue damage and tendon and nerve injury at the same time as other reconstructive procedures. Treatment plans for traumatic injury may extend over many months. Depending upon the nature and extent of the injury, plastic surgical skill may be required following the initial repair to reduce the appearance of scars or otherwise continue improving the appearance after an injury.

The Role of Plastic Surgery

The emergence of modern plastic surgery began in World War II. General surgeons and other specialists needed to become "artistic" when repairing war injuries. By the mid 1900s, plastic surgery became its own specialty. Today, it is prerequisite that all plastic surgeons must have significant general surgical training before they can enter into a plastic surgery residency. However, the level of general surgical training varies among plastic surgeons.

The treatment plan for reconstruction patient may incorporate the expertise of a plastic surgeon and other specialists, such as an ear-nose-and-throat surgeon or an orthopedic specialist. Plastic surgeons who focus on specific reconstructive procedures may be most experienced to address a specific traumatic injury, birth defect, or deformity. Medical conditions often require an integrated treatment plan between plastic surgeons and other specialists. The number of plastic reconstructive procedures has grown and continues to grow.

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[page updated June 2008]