What is facial plastic surgery?
Facial plastic surgery is a branch of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery whose objective is the correction and/or improvement of abnormalities in the face of congenital, acquired, tumoral or involutive origin, which require repair or replacement of the form and function.
Facial plastic surgery covers a wide range of interventions, from ambulatory and minimally invasive processes such as the removal of pigmented lesions and scars under local anesthesia, to complex surgeries such as the removal of a facial tumor or facial harmonization after an accident under general anesthesia.
Why is it performed?
Depending on the purpose for which it is used, facial plastic surgery can be divided into two main groups: reconstructive or restorative surgery and aesthetic or cosmetic surgery.
- Reconstructive/reparative surgery (which includes microsurgery) is focused on disguising the effects of an accident or trauma, congenital malformations and tumors of the face.
- On the other hand, aesthetic or cosmetic surgery generally treats healthy patients and is performed with the purpose of modifying parts of the face that are not satisfactory for the patient, in order to improve his or her quality of life. However, there are cases with functional reasons as well, for example, blepharoplasty or rhinoplasty.
Facial plastic surgery may be indicated to modify the appearance or expression of the patient and to obtain the best version of himself.
What does it consist of?
The intervention will depend on each case to be treated. Generally, the process begins with one or several prior consultations with the surgeon, who will assess the situation and explain to the patient the existing surgical treatment options, how the pre and post-surgery will be and the results that can be expected.
It is very important that during the whole process there is a good communication between surgeon and patient, and that the specialist makes sure that the patient understands the process he/she is about to start, the risks involved and the realistic results.
Preparation for facial plastic surgery
Before the operation, the specialist may require tests such as clinical analysis to check the patient’s state of health and ensure that he/she can undergo the intervention.
The type of anesthesia, the duration of the intervention and its risks will depend on each specific case.
Care after the procedure
The postoperative period and care of the intervention will depend on each type of surgery in particular, although in most facial interventions a period of rest is necessary after leaving the operating room.
It is also characteristic of facial plastic surgery operations that there is swelling in the area and the definitive results take weeks or even months to appear, when the inflammation subsides.
Alternatives to this treatment
For some techniques that have been conventionally approached by means of facial plastic surgery, alternative techniques without surgery have been developed in recent years, which offer a very similar or equal result to surgery but without going through the operating room, such as facelift without surgery.