Plastic surgery restores form and function through reconstructive procedures, cosmetic enhancements, and body contouring.

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Overview and definition

Plastic surgery is a diverse surgical specialty dedicated to restoring, reconstructing, or altering the human body. The term is derived from the Greek word plastikos, meaning “to mold” or “to form.” Contrary to popular belief, the field is not solely focused on cosmetic enhancements. It is broadly categorized into two main disciplines: Reconstructive Surgery, which corrects defects to restore normal function and appearance, and Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Surgery, which focuses on enhancing the appearance of structures that are functioning normally. A Plastic Surgeon is a specialist trained in the complex manipulation of skin, muscle, bone, and soft tissue to achieve these goals.

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The Dual Nature of the Specialty

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Plastic surgery is unique in that it addresses both medical necessity and quality of life through physical improvement.

  • Reconstructive Surgery: This branch aims to reconstruct a part of the body or improve its functioning. It is medically necessary and performed on abnormal structures of the body caused by:
    • Congenital Defects
    • Trauma
    • Infection and Disease
    • Tumor Removal
  • Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Surgery: This branch of surgery is elective and focuses on enhancing the patient’s appearance to improve symmetry, proportion, and aesthetic appeal.
    • Facial Rejuvenation
    • Body Contouring
    • Breast Surgery
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Anatomy of Soft Tissue and Structure

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Plastic surgery requires a deep understanding of the body’s layers. Surgeons do not just stitch skin; they reposition the underlying tissue and muscle.

  • The Integumentary System (Skin): The primary canvas. Surgeons must understand skin elasticity, blood supply, and healing properties to minimize scarring.
  • SMAS (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System): A layer of tissue deep within the face that is tightened during a modern facelift to provide long-lasting, natural results.
  • Adipose Tissue (Fat): Fat is reshaped, removed (liposuction), or transferred (fat grafting) to add volume to areas like the cheeks, breasts, or buttocks.
  • Cartilage and Bone: The structural framework. In rhinoplasty (nose surgery), cartilage is carved and sutured. In craniofacial surgery, bones are realigned.

The Impact of Plastic Surgery

Beyond the physical changes, plastic surgery has a profound psychological impact. For a burn victim, reconstructive surgery restores the ability to interact socially without stigma. For a mother undergoing a “Mommy Makeover,” it restores the body confidence lost after pregnancy. The goal is to align the patient’s external appearance with their internal sense of self.

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Symptoms and Causes

In the context of plastic surgery, “symptoms” refer to physical traits, whether acquired, congenital, or developmental, that a patient wishes to correct. These can range from functional impairments, like blocked breathing, to aesthetic concerns, like premature aging. Understanding the underlying causes helps the surgeon choose the correct technique.

Candidates and Conditions for Surgery

Patients typically seek plastic surgery for specific visible conditions or functional issues.

  • Signs of Facial Aging:
    • Ptosis (Drooping)
    • Volume Loss
    • Rhytids (Wrinkles)
    • Jowling
  • Breast and Body Concerns:
    • Macromastia (Overly Large Breasts)
    • Micromastia (Small Breasts)
    • Ptosis (Sagging)
    • Diastasis Recti
    • Lipodystrophy
  • Nasal Concerns:
    • Dorsal Hump
    • Deviated Septum
    • Bulbous Tip
  • Congenital and Developmental Anomalies:
    • Cleft Lip and Palate
    • Gynecomastia
    • Prominent Ears (Otoplasty)

Underlying Causes of Aesthetic and Functional Issues

  • Aging (Intrinsic and Extrinsic):
    • Intrinsic: The natural biological process where collagen and elastin production slow down.
    • Extrinsic (Photoaging): Damage from UV radiation (sun exposure) destroys collagen, causing leathery skin and pigmentation. Smoking constricts blood vessels, accelerating aging and impairing healing.
  • Massive Weight Loss: Losing a significant amount of weight (often after Bariatric Surgery) leaves behind excess, hanging skin that has lost its elasticity and cannot “snap back.”
  • Genetics: Bone structure, fat distribution, and skin quality are largely inherited. If parents had heavy eyelids or a specific nose shape, children often inherit these traits.
  • Hormonal Changes: Pregnancy and menopause dramatically alter breast volume, skin elasticity, and fat storage patterns.
  • Trauma and Scarring: Accidents, burns, or previous surgeries trigger the body’s healing response, which can result in Hypertrophic Scars (raised red scars) or Keloids (scars that grow beyond the wound boundary).

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Diagnosis and Staging

Diagnosis in plastic surgery is a collaborative process involving a detailed physical examination and an in-depth discussion of the patient’s goals. Unlike other medical fields where the doctor tells the patient what is wrong, here the patient defines the problem, and the surgeon determines if and how it can be fixed. At Liv Hospital, we utilize advanced visualization technology to bridge the gap between expectation and reality.

The Consultation: Analysis and Planning

The consultation is the most critical step. It determines patient candidacy and safety.

  • Patient History: A review of medical conditions (like diabetes or hypertension) and lifestyle factors (smoking) that affect healing. Smoking is a major contraindication for many flap surgeries and facelifts due to the risk of tissue death (necrosis).
  • Physical Examination:
    • Skin Quality Assessment: Measuring elasticity and thickness. Thin skin may show implant rippling; thick skin may hide refined nasal tip work.
    • Anthropometric Measurements: Measuring the dimensions of the face or body to ensure symmetry. For breast surgery, this includes the distance from the sternal notch to the nipple.
    • Functional Assessment: Checking airflow in rhinoplasty candidates or abdominal muscle integrity in tummy tuck candidates.

Advanced Visualization Technology

It is challenging for patients to visualize the potential surgical outcomes. We use technology to create a shared vision.

  • 3D Vectra Imaging: A specialized camera system captures a high-resolution 3D image of the patient’s face or body. Software then allows the surgeon to simulate the results, showing what a nose would look like with the hump removed, or how different sizes of breast implants would look on the patient’s actual torso.
  • Digital Morphing: Used primarily for rhinoplasty to adjust profile views and set realistic goals.
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Classification and Staging of Conditions

  • Surgeons use specific scales to grade the severity of defects, which dictates the surgical approach.

    • Regnault Classification (Breast Ptosis):
      • Grade 1 (Mild): Nipple is at the level of the inframammary fold (under-breast crease).
      • Grade 2 (Moderate): Nipple is below the fold but above the lower breast contour.
      • Grade 3 (Severe): Nipple is at the lowest point of the breast, pointing downward. This determines whether a simple implant will suffice or if a mastopexy (breast lift) is necessary.
    • Baker Classification (Capsular Contracture): Used to stage scar tissue around breast implants.
      • Grade I: Soft and natural.
      • Grade IV: Hard, painful, and visibly distorted.
    • Fitzpatrick Skin Type: Classifies skin by color and reaction to sun (Type I to VI). This is crucial for determining the safety of laser resurfacing and chemical peels to avoid pigmentation risks.
    • Glogau Scale: Grades photoaging (wrinkles) from Mild (no makeup needed) to Severe (solid wrinkles affecting the entire face).

Treatment Details

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Plastic surgery treatments are highly individualized. The “best” procedure depends on the patient’s anatomy and desired recovery time. Treatments range from non-invasive “lunchtime” procedures to complex, multi-stage reconstructive surgeries.

Facial Rejuvenation and Contouring

  • Rhinoplasty (Nose Job):
    • Open Rhinoplasty: A small incision is made on the columella (the skin between the nostrils) to lift the skin and expose the underlying structure and used for complex reshaping.
    • Closed Rhinoplasty
    • Septoplasty
  • Rhytidectomy (Facelift):
    • Deep Plane Facelift
    • Mini-Lift:
  • Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery): Removing excess skin and fat bags from the upper and lower eyelids to correct a tired or angry appearance.

Breast Surgery (Mammoplasty)

  • Breast Augmentation: Using implants (Silicone or Saline) or fat transfer to increase size.
    • Implant Placement: Can be Subglandular (over the muscle) or Submuscular (under the chest muscle) for a more natural transition.
  • Breast Reduction: Removing excess fat, glandular tissue, and skin to achieve a breast size in proportion with the body and alleviate back pain.
  • Mastopexy (Breast Lift): Removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour. Often combined with an implant (Augmentation-Mastopexy).

Body Contouring

    • Liposuction: The removal of localized fat deposits using a cannula (hollow tube) and suction.
      • Vaser Liposuction: Uses ultrasound energy to break down fat cells before removal, allowing for smoother results and skin retraction.
    • Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck): Removing excess skin and fat from the abdomen and suturing the weakened abdominal muscles (plication) to restore a flat profile.
      • Mini Tummy Tuck: Addresses only the area below the belly button.
      • Full Tummy Tuck: Addresses the entire abdomen and involves moving the belly button.
    • Mommy Makeover: A combination procedure typically involving a Tummy Tuck and Breast Surgery (Lift/Augmentation) performed in a single session to restore a woman’s pre-pregnancy body.

Reconstructive Procedures

  • Breast Reconstruction: Performed after mastectomy using either implants or the patient’s own tissue to rebuild a natural-looking breast.
  • Scar Revision: Using surgical excision or Z-plasty techniques to reorient scars and make them less visible.
  • Burn Care: Using skin grafts and tissue expansion to repair damage.

Non-Surgical Aesthetics

  • Neuromodulators (Botox): Relaxing muscles to smooth wrinkles.
  • Dermal Fillers (Hyaluronic Acid): Restoring volume to lips, cheeks, and nasolabial folds.
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The Medical Center

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Plastic surgery is an art, but safety is the canvas upon which it is painted. At Liv Hospital, the Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery Department adheres to the highest international standards of surgical safety and ethical care. We believe that true beauty is achieved when expert technique meets patient safety.

Why Choose Liv Hospital for Plastic Surgery?

  • Board-Certified Expertise: Our team consists of surgeons who are not only board-certified but also specialized in specific areas. We have surgeons who dedicate their practice solely to rhinoplasty, while others specialize in complex microsurgical breast reconstruction. This sub-specialization ensures mastery of technique.
  • High-Tech Simulation: We utilize Vectra XT 3D Imaging. This allows patients to see a realistic simulation of their post-surgical result before entering the operating room. It aligns the patient’s vision with the surgeon’s plan, significantly increasing patient satisfaction.
  • Combined Procedures: Our hospital infrastructure enables safe combination surgeries (e.g., Mommy Makeover or Rhinoplasty combined with Chin Augmentation) with the support of a comprehensive anesthesiology and intensive care team, ensuring safety even during longer procedures.

Safety and Aftercare

  • Surgery is only half the journey; recovery is the other half.

    • JCI Accreditation: Our facility is accredited by the Joint Commission International, ensuring that our sterilization, anesthesia, and surgical protocols meet the strictest global safety standards.
    • Comprehensive Post-Op Care: We provide specialized post-surgical garments, lymphatic drainage massage therapies to reduce swelling, and scar management protocols (silicone sheets, laser treatments) to ensure the finest possible scar quality.

A Holistic Aesthetic Approach

We integrate surgery with non-invasive care.

  • Medical Spa Integration: Our department works closely with our dermatology and medical aesthetics units. A facelift patient may receive laser skin resurfacing to enhance skin texture, ensuring that the skin appears as youthful as the new facial contours.
  • Global Patient Services: We are experienced in caring for international patients, offering virtual consultations, airport transfers, and dedicated recovery suites to ensure a seamless and stress-free medical tourism experience.

 

Your Journey Toward Healing

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At Liv Hospital, we do not just change how you look; we empower how you feel. Our goal is natural, harmonious results that respect your unique anatomy and enhance your inherent beauty.

30
Years of
Excellence

Trusted Worldwide

With patients from across the globe, we bring over three decades of medical expertise and hospitality to every individual who walks through our doors.  

Book a Free Certified Online Doctor Consultation

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the difference between Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery?

While both fall under the specialty of plastic surgery, their goals differ:

  • Reconstructive Surgery: Is medically necessary. It aims to repair abnormal structures caused by congenital defects (like cleft lip), trauma, infection, or tumors (like breast reconstruction after cancer) to restore function and normal appearance.
  • Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Surgery: Is elective. It focuses on enhancing the appearance of typical bodily structures to improve symmetry, proportion, and self-confidence (e.g., facelifts or breast augmentation).
What is the SMAS technique in facelift surgery?

SMAS stands for Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System. It is a layer of tissue deep within the face and neck. Modern facelifts, such as the “Deep Plane Facelift,” tighten this underlying muscle layer rather than just pulling the skin. This technique provides longer-lasting results and avoids the unnatural “windblown” look associated with older methods.

Why is smoking a major risk factor for plastic surgery?

Smoking constricts blood vessels and reduces oxygen flow to tissues. In surgeries that rely on blood supply for healing, such as facelifts, tummy tucks, and flap surgeries, smoking significantly increases the risk of tissue necrosis (tissue death), delayed wound healing, and noticeable scarring. Patients are strictly advised to stop smoking before and after surgery.

What is the difference between Open and Closed Rhinoplasty?

Closed Rhinoplasty: All incisions are made inside the nostrils. This means there is no visible external scar. It is typically used for minor adjustments.

Open Rhinoplasty: A small incision is made across the columella (the strip of skin between the nostrils). This allows the surgeon to lift the skin and clearly see the underlying structure. It is preferred for complex reshaping or major structural work.

What is a "Mommy Makeover"?

A Mommy Makeover is a combination procedure designed to restore a woman’s body to its pre-pregnancy appearance. It is typically performed in a single surgical session and most commonly includes a combination of breast surgery (lift or augmentation) and an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) to address sagging breasts and loose abdominal skin/muscle.

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