Introduction:
Plastic surgery is a surgical treatment used to restore and manage various facial and body deformities or defects due to illness, trauma, or congenital malformations by reconstructing defects or deformities. Plastic surgery can be done anywhere on the body, excluding the central nervous system. It is mainly used to manage various diseases in different body regions, including the skin and maxillofacial skeleton. Congenital anomalies can also be corrected by reconstructing deformed ears, cleft lips, and cleft palates. Common skin disorders like scars, burns, birthmarks, and skin cancer can be treated with plastic surgery. It is also used to remove tattoos.
What Are the Types of Plastic Surgery for Various Skin Disorders?
Types of plastic surgeries for skin disorders:
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Chemical Peel: A chemical peel is a procedure used for skin resurfacing by applying a chemical solution to the skin thereby removing the outermost layers of skin. It can aid in the growth of new skin. It is mostly used in depressed scars. Mostly medium and deep chemical peels are used for skin disorders.
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Dermabrasion, or Dermaplaning: Dermabrasion is a procedure used to remove the top skin layers by using a specialized instrument. This abrasiveness makes the skin smooth. It is mainly used for treating acne scars and marks.
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Collagen or Fat-Injectable Fillers: This is also called soft-tissue augmentation and can be done by injecting collagen or fat into the skin to fill the depressed area. It is mostly used for depression scars. The injectable collagen fillers provide support to the skin, bones, ligaments, etc., by stimulating collagen production and treating scars and facial lines. The injectable fat fillers are used for correcting skin defects by injecting fat into the skin for recontouring skin. This procedure is also called microlipoinjection. The fat can be obtained from one part of the body using a thin needle and injected into the affected part, thereby reducing allergic reactions.
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Botox Injections: Botox (Onabotulinum toxin A) is a toxin that prevents the chemical signals from nerves, which relaxes the skin. Botox injections help reduce acne scars by relaxing the surrounding skin. The results are temporary.
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Laser Peel: Laser peel or skin resurfacing can be done by using short pulsating beams of light. Lasers are usually directed at the affected sites, thereby removing the outermost layer of skin and promoting the growth of more collagen fibers that can result in smooth skin. It is mostly used for removing scars and lesions, both benign and malignant.
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Corticosteroid Injections: Corticosteroid injections help lower the collagen production in the skin, thereby reducing the size and appearance of a scar. These are used as a first line of treatment for raised lesions like hypertrophic and keloid scars.
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Bleomycin Injections: Bleomycin injections are mainly used in cancer treatment by preventing cell growth and reducing the size and form of raised scars like hypertrophic and keloid scars. Though it is an effective medicine, it is not a permanent solution as they often recur.
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Cryosurgery or Cryotherapy: Cryosurgery involves substances like liquid nitrogen and argon gas that can be applied or sprayed over the scar tissue, thereby promoting freezing and causing the cells to die. It is mostly used for small scars and is not recommended for darker-skinned people.
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Microneedling: This process involves a device incorporated with small needles. This device is rolled over the affected area, and needles prick the affected area, which can stimulate collagen growth. It is mostly used for scars. Radiation can also be used in the device to enhance its effects, referred to as radiation microneedling.
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Skin Grafts: Skin grafts involve the removal of skin from one part of the body and transplanting it to other parts. Skin grafts are of two types: split-thickness grafts and full-thickness grafts. Split-thickness grafts include a few layers of outer skin, and full-thickness grafts include both epidermis and dermis, which can cause permanent scarring. It is mostly used for burns and skin loss due to infection, trauma, and skin cancer treatment.
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Tissue Expansion: Tissue expansion can be performed by enhancing the growth of supplemental skin by using an instrument called a balloon expander inserted in the affected site that can cause stretching and growth of extra skin to be used for repairing the damaged skin. It can be done on almost any body part, repairing congenital and acquired defects. It is used in burns by providing new skin to reconstruct the burn injury site.
How Does Recovery Happen After Plastic Surgery for Skin Disorders?
The surgical site started to heal by showing changes in skin color, appearance, and sensation at the surgical site. The incision site might show a tingling sensation or numbness over it. The sensation can be regained within a few months, depending on the severity of treatment. It is advised to wear loose, comfortable clothing to avoid disturbances in blood circulation at the surgical site and improve a faster recovery.
What Are the Risks Associated With Plastic Surgery?
Plastic surgery may cause several risks, either while doing or after the procedure, including:
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Sensitive or delicate structures near the surgical site may get affected, which may cause nerve damage, severe blood loss, etc.
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Abnormal scarring.
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Infection at the surgical site.
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Edema at the surgical site.
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Scarring restricts movement through over-contracture.
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Poor wound healing in cases of uncontrolled systemic conditions.
Conclusion:
Plastic surgery for skin disorders can be done by promoting the exfoliation of the top layers and rejuvenating the skin. The treatment and outcomes can differ from person to person based on the lesions, appearance, location, extent, and other factors. It can promote quality of life by restoring and reconstructing damaged skin to improve appearance and function.
