What is The Difference Between Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery?

Pleasant facial features and a winning personality play an important role in our personal and professional lives. Unfortunately, sometimes people may have facial abnormalities due to the loss of some part of their face during surgery for conditions like cancer. On the other hand, others may have less-than-perfect facial features due to reasons like birth defects or genetics, affecting their self-esteem. 

If you relate to the above conditions, you will find the perfect solutions to overcome your issues – facial reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgeries. We will attempt to clear people’s confusion regarding both procedures. As you read on till the end, you will realize that while both procedures have similarities, they are distinct from one another. 

Understanding Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery and Their Objectives

 

1. Reconstructive Surgery
   The upper and lower jaws are two important components of the face. Any shortcomings like a change in shape or damage on the face impact your looks and functionality. Facial reconstructive surgery aims to restore function and normal appearance and correct the deformities created by birth defects or medical conditions, such as cancer. 
2. Cosmetic surgery
   If you’re underconfident about your visual appearance and want to make adjustments to normal anatomy, then you can opt for cosmetic plastic surgery. Cosmetic surgery can be performed on any body part or anywhere on the face, and the goal is to maximize the cosmetic result. Since it brings lasting changes to your appearance, the person getting the surgery should carefully consider the motives before making the final decision. 

People Who Need Reconstructive Surgery

Reconstructive surgery is undergone by people who were born with birth defects or have developed diseases or defects caused by an injury. Here is the list:

• Birth defects
• Facial injuries
• People suffering from cysts and tumours
• Difficulty in mouth opening or chewing
• Saliva drooling from the mouth
• Missing teeth
• Loss of upper jaw, lower jaw, or tongue secondary to injury, cancer, or tumour surgery

Common Procedures in Reconstructive Surgery

There are a plethora of reconstruction procedures that can be availed like:

• Reconstruction of the face (upper jaw, lower jaw, tongue)
• Cleft lip and palate repair
• Bone grafts taken from the hip or rib are used to reconstruct jaw bone

In this article, we will cover only those procedures that are performed by a maxillofacial surgeon.

1. Microvascular reconstruction

   This surgery is performed on people who have suffered from facial trauma or as a treatment for oral cancer. In this procedure, the missing jaw bone is reconstructed using bone taken from the patient’s leg together with its blood vessels. One significant benefit of this procedure is that the jaw bone has its own blood supply. 

2. Nasal reconstruction

   This procedure involves reconstructing the tissues and correcting the deformities caused by injuries to the nose. Such patients experience difficulty in breathing through the nose, which is resolved through reconstructive surgery.

3. Facial bone reconstruction

   It is done when a patient suffers fractures that involve the jaw bones, cheekbones, or orbital bones. Such fractures may cause difficulty in chewing or smiling and affect other facial functionality. The maxillofacial surgeon uses his expertise to rectify these issues and ensures that there are no visible facial scars. 

4. Jaw reconstruction surgery

   This procedure addresses biting issues, jaw injuries, sleep apnea, and other jaw-related issues. Based on the specific condition, a maxillofacial surgeon will prepare your mouth and teeth and perform the surgery to reconstruct your jaw. This surgery helps in restoring the normal functions of the jaw. 

People Who May Undergo Cosmetic Surgery

It is performed for non-medical reasons to improve the appearance of body parts by changing their shape, size, and symmetry. The following are the reasons:

• You are young and want to have bigger lips 
• You have flat cheekbones or early sagging of the cheeks
• You have deep forehead wrinkles or frown lines 
• You have droopy eyelids, puffiness, or bags under your eyes 
• You have a large, crooked nose that is droopy
• You have a gummy smile
• You have a forwardly-placed jaw bone (prognathism)
• You have a backwardly-placed jaw bone (Retrognathism)
• You need chin correction

Common Cosmetic Surgery Procedures

Cosmetic surgery is not a medical surgery and is performed to enhance the overall cosmetic appearance. Let us now look at some of the commonly performed procedures:

1. Facelift
   This surgery addresses visible signs of aging in the face and neck, including deep fold lines at the corner of the mouth or sagging of the face.
2. Liposuction
   
   Also called contouring, this procedure involves removing excess fat from specific areas of the body. It is done to remove fat from areas where it is difficult to lose weight; the abdomen, hips, thighs, or buttocks.
3. Botox and fillers

   In this procedure, Botox is injected into specific muscles to relax them. It is commonly used to flatten wrinkles, giving the face a youthful look. Dermal fillers are injected by the surgeon under the skin to add fullness to the face.

4. Rhinoplasty

   This surgery is done either to improve the nose’s appearance or to address breathing problems. This involves correcting the shape, size, or proportions of the nose, along with birth defect correction and facial injuries. 

5. Orthognathic surgery

   It corrects jaw bone irregularities and realigns the teeth and jaws to improve it’s functioning and facial appearance. The jaws are lengthened or shortened or moved up or down, leading to a more harmonious bite. Common procedures include maxillary osteotomy done on the upper jaw, mandibular osteotomy performed on the mandible or lower jaw, bimaxillary osteotomy done on both upper and lower jaws, and genioplasty to correct chin issues,

Outcomes and Benefits

Following are the benefits that one can expect under both the surgeries:

• Reconstructive surgery
  • Improves vital functions like chewing, speaking, or eating
  • Boosts your comfort and self-confidence
  • Enhances your facial profile
  • Restores the shape and looks of your face 
• Cosmetic surgery
  • Enhances self-image and confidence
  • Provides a more natural appearance
  • Corrects congenital defects, leading to more fulfilled lives
  • Certain surgeries, like bariatric surgery, can aid in significant weight loss 

Insurance Coverage

The question that comes to most people’s minds about getting cosmetic or reconstructive surgery is whether their insurance policy will cover the costs they undergo. Let us examine what you can expect after both surgeries:

• Reconstructive surgery: Most insurance providers cover the cost of reconstructive surgeries and provide all the necessary assistance and facilities. However, it is better to consult your maxillofacial surgeon to determine how much of your expenses will be covered. 
• Cosmetic surgery: Unlike reconstructive surgeries, cosmetic surgeries are not performed for medical emergencies or the treatment of any specific disease. They are not usually included in your health insurance plan.

But some surgeries may be included:

For example:

• Treat congenital deformities like cleft lips or nasal deformities
• Surgeries for burn injuries like skin tightening or grafting
• Cancer and tumour treatment surgeries

Conclusion

Reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries, though similar in many ways, are distinct from one another and are done to achieve different objectives. Knowing the differences will help you approach the right specialist for your specific issue, leading to the best possible outcome,

Facial reconstructive surgery involving the jaw needs to be performed by a maxillofacial surgeon with the required experience. At Gnathos Facial, our expert surgeons are well-versed in minimally invasive techniques and perform the procedures under hygienic conditions to ensure the best outcome for patients without complications.