When it comes to plastic surgery, there are many different types of surgeries and procedures to choose from. However, many of these procedures can be placed into larger categories as far as what they’re used for in general. One great example of this is cosmetic surgery versus reconstructive surgery. The entirety of the plastic surgery world basically sits in these two categories, They sound like they would be pretty close to the same thing, but they definitely aren’t. Here is some vital information on understanding the differences between the two.
Reconstructive Surgery
The biggest difference between the two types of surgery is whether they’re medically necessary or not. In other words, a burn victim needing their face reconstructed is medically necessary while getting lip fillers isn’t medically necessary. Therefore, looking at the situation and need in general can usually answer the overall question, “What would this fall under?” Reconstructive surgery does exactly as its name suggests, it reconstructs after birth defects, major incidents, cancer procedures, major burn incidents, etc. Often times, these surgeries allow patients to regain function and reach a more normal appearance.
Cosmetic Surgery
Contrary to popular belief, plastic surgery doesn’t involve using plastic to change someone’s appearance. The name can definitely be misleading as far as the US goes since the word “plastic” has a very specific meaning to us. However, the Greek word “plastikos” is how plastic surgery got its title. This word means to shape or mold which is ultimately what all plastic surgery is focused on. Cosmetic surgery is deemed as such if it’s considered not medically necessary. In other words, procedures such as a nose job, lip fillers, facelift, implants, etc. are considered cosmetic.
Where the Lines Blur
Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery blur lines quite often, especially where insurance is concerned. There are a great many circumstances that might take a procedure dubbed cosmetic and turn it into reconstructive. Since some of the procedures used in cosmetic surgery may be used in reconstructive surgery, it often comes down to the specific circumstances of a patient on whether or not it’s deemed cosmetic or reconstructive. The type of procedure it’s deemed to be will largely decide whether insurance will cover the procedure or not. Often times, cosmetic surgery is not covered on insurance, but reconstructive surgery is.
If you have had an accident or occurrence that you believe may require surgery, it’s always best to speak with a plastic surgeon. Many times, they will be able to tell you whether it’s medically necessary or not. If it’s not, they can still offer you information on taking the next step to reverse what occurred. Just because it might not be deemed medically necessary to them, it still may feel necessary to you. Although insurance might not cover it, it’s still worth going through with the procedure to get you back to feeling like yourself.
