Introduction:
Trauma can lead to scars not only on the body of an affected individual but also on their heart. Plastic surgery in trauma survivors is recommended to give a good aesthetic look to the survivors as well, and this helps in rebuilding their confidence while going in public. Plastic surgery is performed by an experienced surgeon in which rebuilding of the body and facial tissue deformities because of any trauma, injury, or birth defect is done. This surgery can be of two types: reconstruction surgery and cosmetic surgery. In this article, the benefits of plastic surgery are discussed not only in the form of physical restoration but also in giving mental peace and satisfaction to trauma survivors.
What Is Plastic Surgery?
Plastic surgery is a surgery done to reform and restore any affected part of the body. This can be performed in any part of the body to rebuild the deformities of the body and facial tissues caused because of any injury, trauma, or birth defect. The word plastic surgery comes from the Greek word - ‘plastikos,’ which stands for forming or molding. This surgery can be of two types: reconstruction surgery and cosmetic surgery.
A team of experienced plastic surgeons performs plastic surgery and reconstructive surgeries. Cosmetic surgeries are performed by doctors of various fields like dermatologists, otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat surgeons), etc.
What Are the Benefits of Plastic Surgery?
For many people, the benefits of cosmetic or reconstructive surgery are more than the risk factors. There is a lot that can be gained from undergoing these procedures, such as:
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Gaining a better quality of life.
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Modified body image and self-confidence.
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More natural appearance.
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Pain relief and more independence after the correction of deformities that make it challenging to move.
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Restoring the functions, like eating solid food after conducting jaw surgery.
What Are the Risks Associated With Plastic Surgery?
Unlike any other surgical procedure, certain risk factors are also associated with plastic surgery. Some of the risks associated with plastic surgery are:
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Bleeding might occur at the site of surgery.
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Pain can be felt.
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Inflammation can be seen.
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Disfigurement can be seen as a result of plastic surgery.
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The sensitive structures located near the operation site might be altered.
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Abnormal tissue scarring can be seen.
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Edema (building up of fluid) can be seen at the operation site.
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It might take a longer duration of time for slow-healing wounds and incisions.
How Is Plastic Surgery Helpful in Trauma Survivors?
Plastic surgery is helpful for trauma survivors. Some of the primary benefits achieved after conducting plastic surgery in trauma survivors are:
1 Physiological Well-Being: Plastic surgery plays a vital role in bringing the survivors out of the trauma not only physically but emotionally too. The leftover marks of the trauma can be distressful to the survivors, but this surgery helps the survivors overcome such situations, rebuilding their confidence to move out in public. There are various reconstructive procedures available, like scar revision can be helpful for patients to gain control over their bodies once again and regain their lost self-esteem. The injuries or deformities acquired after trauma can be successfully managed by plastic surgery, and thus, it provides a positive approach towards mental health as well.
2. Restoring the Body Function: Traumatic injuries can lead to deformities in any part of the body due to which the affected individuals fail to perform functions independently. Plastic surgeries like hand or face reconstruction can be beneficial in restoring the lost function of the affected body part and improving the quality of life. Some examples of facial reconstruction procedures are performed to correct fractures, help restore the muscle tone and function of the face, and provide improved speech, eating, and facial expressions.
Reconstructive surgeries are also helpful when performed on hand, as this can restore hand movement and function and help the affected individuals perform daily activities. This gives a feeling of independence to such people. Overcoming functional impairments with the help of plastic surgery helps in the process of recovery as well. Therefore, this helps gain physical capabilities once again and helps improve the quality of life of the trauma survivors.
3. Enhancing Self-Confidence: The trauma survivors might feel less confident or lose their confidence due to losing their looks. This confidence can be regained with the help of plastic surgery. Affected individuals might have scars or deformities that can be overcome, and they can get a better and enhanced look. This helps in the boosting of self-confidence as well as self-esteem. With the improvement in appearance, survivors feel more comfortable and confident about their looks and can move publicly. The transformation gained with the help of plastic surgery also motivates trauma survivors to go back into their social and professional circles confidently and gives an improved quality of post-trauma life.
4. Gives Emotional Closure: Many of the trauma survivors keep on recalling the incident that took place in their lives. With the help of plastic surgery, their scars vanish, and the function of the affected part of the body is also restored. Thus, the survivors get emotional closure from the incident by overcoming these factors.
Conclusion:
Plastic surgery is a surgical process done to regain certain functions of the body parts affected by an injury or give a better aesthetic appearance to them. This helps in rebuilding the lives of the trauma survivors as it plays a vital role in regaining the look as well as the lost confidence of the survivors and, therefore, speeding up the healing process. Plastic surgeries can correct physical deformities, restore the function of the affected body part, and regain confidence, thus helping in rebuilding a life for trauma survivors. Not only physically the survivors satisfied, but they also regain their mental peace by returning to day-to-day activities, getting an emotional closure of the incident, etc. With the multiple benefits of plastic surgery, it can be clearly said that it not only provides physical restoration by plays a significant role in rebuilding the lives of trauma survivors.
