Generally speaking, reconstructive surgery repairs problems with the body caused by congenital defects, physical developmental issues, injuries, tumors or disease.
Reconstructive surgery can involve some cosmetic procedures, as well as:
- Breast implant removal: Implants should be removed or exchanged every 10-15 years. They should also be removed any time the outside shell ruptures and the silicone leaks out.
- Cleft lip and palate repair: When a child's upper lip or roof of the mouth is incompletely formed, it requires surgery. It will help their ability to speak, eat, hear and breathe.
- Congenital anomalies: These are conditions where a condition present at birth deviates from the normal structure and function of the body. Many of these can be repaired through plastic surgery.
- Craniosynostosis: When the joints in an infant's skull fuse too early, this can result in a misshapen head and added pressure on the brain. This surgery will correct the shape and allow the brain to expand normally.
- Jaw-straightening surgery: This can make teeth fit together better and treat obstructive sleep apnea.
- Microsurgery: This procedure repairs blood vessels and nerves less than a few millimeters in diameter. It's typically used for complex reconstructive surgery.
- Migraine surgery: Migraines can compress and irritate nerves and blood vessels around a patient's head. These compression points are released during surgery.
- Septoplasty: Correcting a deviated septum can help patients improve their breathing. It can help treat excessive snoring and sleep apnea.
- Skin cancer removal: Depending on the lesion, there are several different ways to remove skin cancer and repair the damage. Your doctor will help you find the one right for you.