Plastic Surgery

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Uğur Tosun

What is Plastic Surgery?

Plastic surgery is a medical specialty that involves the alteration, reconstruction, or restoration of the human body. It can be divided into two categories:

  1. Cosmetic surgery: Enhances appearance by improving aesthetic appeal, symmetry, and proportion.
  2. Reconstructive surgery: Repairs defects to restore normal function and appearance.

It’s performed for both aesthetic and medical reasons.

The popularity of plastic surgery procedures has generally increased worldwide in recent years. Factors such as social media influence, technological advancements in surgical techniques, and changing beauty standards have contributed to this rise.

Face Surgery

All Face Surgery & Cosmetic Procedures

Body Surgery

All Body Surgery Procedures

Nose Surgery

All Nose Surgery Procedures

Types of Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is broadly categorized into two main types: cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery. Cosmetic surgery focuses on enhancing appearance through surgical and medical techniques, aiming to improve aesthetic appeal, symmetry, and proportion. Procedures include facelifts, breast augmentation, and liposuction. Reconstructive surgery aims to correct abnormalities due to congenital defects, trauma, infections, tumors, or diseases to restore function and appearance. Examples include breast reconstruction after mastectomy, cleft lip and palate surgery, and burn repair surgery.

The Consultation Process

The journey to undergoing plastic surgery begins with a consultation. This critical step involves discussing your goals, expectations, and concerns with a plastic surgeon. The surgeon evaluates your medical history, conducts a physical examination, and may use imaging to visualize outcomes. This process ensures that patients are well-informed about their chosen procedure, potential risks, and realistic outcomes, fostering a collaborative approach to achieving desired results.

Preparing for Surgery

Preparation for plastic surgery involves several steps to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. Patients may need to undergo medical evaluations, adjust current medications, avoid certain supplements and drugs, and stop smoking. Detailed instructions on pre-operative care, including fasting and hygiene protocols, are provided to minimize the risk of complications and facilitate a smooth recovery.

Common Plastic Surgery Procedures

This section delves into the most sought-after plastic surgery procedures, such as rhinoplasty (nose reshaping), blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), and breast surgeries (augmentation, lift, reduction). Each procedure is explained in terms of technique, intended outcome, ideal candidates, and recovery expectations.

Risks and Complications

While plastic surgery can offer transformative results, it is not without risks. Complications can include infection, scarring, anesthesia risks, and dissatisfaction with the outcome. This subheading addresses the importance of understanding potential risks, how surgeons work to mitigate them, and the role of patients in following post-operative care instructions to minimize complications.

Choosing the Right Surgeon

The success of plastic surgery heavily depends on the skill and expertise of the surgeon. Criteria for choosing the right surgeon include board certification, experience in the specific procedure, a good track record of safety and patient satisfaction, and a personal connection. This section advises on how to research and select a surgeon who can safely achieve your aesthetic goals.

Ethical Considerations

The field of plastic surgery is not just about aesthetics; it’s also laden with ethical considerations, such as ensuring informed consent, managing patient expectations, and addressing psychological impacts. The importance of a responsible approach to patient care, respecting patient autonomy, and upholding ethical standards in aesthetic enhancement and reconstructive efforts are discussed.

Reasons for the Popularity of Plastic Surgery in Turkey

  1. Experienced Surgeons: Many surgeons in Turkey have high volumes of surgeries, leading to expertise.
  2. Modern Facilities: Turkey has many state-of-the-art hospitals and clinics.
  3. Tourism Opportunities: Patients can combine medical treatment with a vacation.
  4. Affordability: Often cheaper than in many Western countries.
  5. Positive Reviews: Many patients share successful experiences, boosting its reputation.
  6. Short Waiting Times: Faster scheduling compared to some countries with longer medical queues.
  7. Cultural Hospitality: The welcoming nature of Turkish culture can make patients feel more at ease.
  8. Personalized Care: Many facilities provide tailored care and post-operative support.
  9. Medical Accreditation: Many Turkish hospitals have international accreditations, ensuring high standards.

In essence, Turkey offers quality surgery at a reduced cost along with appealing travel opportunities.

Plastic Surgeon
Assist. Prof. Uğur Tosun

Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery

Reyap Hospital – Istanbul, Turkey

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FaQ – Plastic Surgery

People opt for plastic surgery in Turkey because it is often more affordable than in many Western countries. Additionally, Turkey is home to many renowned and experienced plastic surgeons who operate in state-of-the-art hospitals and clinics. Beyond the medical advantages, Turkey offers the opportunity to combine the surgical experience with a vacation, and patients can also benefit from quicker appointment and procedure scheduling due to shorter waiting times.

Yes, plastic surgery in Turkey is generally cheaper than in many Western countries due to lower operational costs and the competitive medical tourism market.

Preparation for plastic surgery can involve several steps, including undergoing a medical evaluation or lab testing, stopping smoking well in advance of the procedure, avoiding taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding, and arranging for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.

Risks can vary depending on the specific procedure but may include infection, scarring, complications from anesthesia, unsatisfactory results, and the need for revision surgery. Discussing potential risks with your surgeon is crucial.

Choosing the right plastic surgeon involves verifying their board certification in plastic surgery, reviewing before-and-after photos of their work, considering their experience in the specific procedure you’re interested in, and ensuring you feel comfortable with their approach and communication style.

During a consultation, the surgeon will assess your health, discuss your surgical goals, recommend a course of treatment, discuss potential outcomes of the surgery and any risks or potential complications, and answer any questions you may have.

The recovery period can vary widely depending on the procedure. Minor surgeries may require only a few days of recovery, while more extensive procedures might require several weeks to months for full recovery. Your surgeon will provide specific guidelines based on the procedure.

While many plastic surgery results are long-lasting, factors such as aging, weight fluctuations, and lifestyle choices can affect the longevity of the results. Maintenance procedures might be necessary to retain the desired outcome.

Many surgeons offer financing plans, and there are medical credit cards and personal loans available through financial institutions. It’s important to understand all costs involved and your payment options before proceeding with surgery.

Cosmetic plastic surgery is performed to enhance or change a healthy, normal body to improve appearance and self-esteem. Reconstructive plastic surgery is performed to correct abnormal structures of the body caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease to restore function and appearance.

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