What Procedures Do Plastic Surgeons Perform?

When most people think of plastic surgeons these days, they immediately picture sexy Hollywood stars with face-lifts, breast augmentations or tummy tucks. While aesthetic surgery plays a large part in the world of plastic surgery, plastic surgeons also play a key role in reconstructive surgeries, fixing congenital deformities and removing tumors.

Aesthetic Surgeries Performed by Plastic Surgeons

Most notably, plastic surgeons are known for their work in aesthetic surgery. Usually elective, aesthetic surgery is used to enhance or modify your body. Following are some of the types of aesthetic surgery procedures that plastic surgeons perform:

-Lifts
Plastic surgeons can lift just about any part of your body. Lifts are usually performed on the arms, breasts, brows, buttocks/thighs, face and neck. Anywhere that sagging skin can become unsightly, a plastic surgeon can perform a lift to tighten it up.

-Implants
The most famous of implants, of course, are those used for breast augmentation. However, plastic surgeons offer a number of other implants for various parts of the body. Calf implants can make the calves appear to be more muscular. Cheek implants are inserted to modify the shape of the face, often to create the appearance of well-defined cheekbones. Other facial implant options include chin, jaw or lip implants. Pectoral implants are also available for men and give the impression of a toned, muscular chest.

Plastic surgeons often perform implant removals as well. Patients who are unhappy with the results of an augmentation involving implants may want them removed. Some implants also lose effectiveness over time, prompting patients to seek their removal.

-Fat Transfers/Removal
Liposuction is a popular method performed by plastic surgeons to reduce fat. During liposuction, fat deposits are actually removed from the body. Alternatively, plastic surgeons can also perform “fat transfers,” in which excess fat from one area of the body is injected into another area -- simultaneously smoothing the injection site while reducing the appearance of fat and cellulite in other areas.

-Rhinoplasty
This procedure, also commonly referred to as a “nose job,” can be performed to improve the appearance of a person’s nose, but is oftentimes used to improve the functioning of the nose. Patients with a broken nose or a deviated septum will undergo rhinoplasty to fix respiratory functions. Plastic surgeons can increase or decrease the size of a nose, as well as modify its shape and width.

-Genital Enhancement
Penis enlargement and labial rejuvenation are procedures performed by plastic surgeons to enhance the appearance and functionality of male and female genitals. Penis enlargement involves injecting or grafting fat onto the penis to increase its girth. Currently, there are no surgical methods to improve penis length. Labial rejuvenation reshapes the labia minora in order to improve vaginal appearance or decrease discomfort during sexual intercourse.

-Non-Surgical Procedures
Plastic surgeons also perform a variety of non-surgical cosmetic treatments that generally focus on skin tightening, cellulite removal and wrinkle reduction, although other treatments exists as well.

Other Procedures Performed by Plastic Surgeons

In many cases, aesthetic surgeries can be performed for non-elective reasons. For instance, a breast cancer patient who undergoes a mastectomy (removal of the breast) to combat cancer may have a breast augmentation surgery. Beyond aesthetic surgeries, plastic surgeons also perform non-elective, non-cosmetic surgeries as well. These include:

- reconstructive surgeries for patients following the removal of cancerous tissue from part of the body
- surgeries to fix skin problems, such as skin grafts
- hand surgery
- treating traumatic injuries to the facial structure or hands
- removing tumors from the neck, head, skin, or other soft tissue
- fixing congenital deformities of the hands and face