What is the difference between Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Surgery?

We have all bumped into the word ‘plastic surgery’ even as little children. The name itself brings in a lot of curiosity and inquisitiveness. Every now and then, we also get to read news articles and celebrity blogs that talk of plastic surgery. The before and after images of the procedures are at times no less than magic. Plastic surgeries have given a new lease of life to many, especially, individuals who have been victims to burns and accidents. To a layman, both plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery would sometimes be seen as one and the same. Is that really so? What’s the difference between a plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery? Is cosmetic surgery a type of plastic surgery? And many more questions pop up. Here, we talk in detail of plastic and cosmetic surgery and hope to help you understand the topic.

What is plastic surgery?

Plastic surgery is the field of medicine that involves surgical reconstruction and alteration of the body. The word plastic means reshaping. A plastic surgeon could use a number of techniques to take body tissue and move it to reconstruct the affected part. Plastic surgery can be divided into two major categories-

• Reconstructive Surgery and
• Cosmetic Surgery

What is Reconstructive Surgery?

A reconstructive surgery aims at correcting defects that might have occurred as a result of birth disorders, accidents, burns and diseases. The affected region is reconstructed and restored to meet better functioning. The main purpose of reconstructive surgeries to help the patient get back to normal while meeting all their functional needs.

What is Cosmetic Surgery?

Cosmetic surgery on the other hand is a procedure that is done to improve one’s appearance for aesthetic reasons. This could involve various surgical and medical procedures for a variety of concerns such as nose reconstruction (rhinoplasty), lip augmentation, wrinkles and skin sag reduction, breast augmentation, hair transplantation, fat removal procedures and many others.

In India, plastic surgery (mainly reconstructive surgeries) were carried out from the 800 B.C. Sushruta, an Indian physician, is renowned around the world for his contributions to the field of plastic surgery and is fondly remembered as the ‘father of plastic surgery’.  Plastic surgeries were commonly performed on soldiers who suffered injuries during battle and India become home to some of most exemplary techniques. Many British physicians even travelled and lived in the country to learn and imbibe some of these techniques in the western world. We can all with pride and assurance say that our country is one among the best in the world to perform plastic surgeries.

The cost of plastic surgery for reconstructive purposes begin at INR 20k in India. Plastic surgery and its costs depend on the type of surgery performed, the extent of reconstruction needed, the hospital, doctor fees and costs of medicines. The exact prices can be obtained only from a physician since the cost will entirely depend on the type of procedure that a patient need.

There are a lot of misconception surrounding plastic surgeries. Some of the facts that patients must know regarding plastic surgery include

• It is not age dependent 

Individuals of any age can undergo a plastic surgery. However, the ideal age to undergo the treatment would be between 18-60 years. Individuals with various medical conditions must disclose it to the surgeon to ensure safety and fast recovery.

• Plastic surgery does not last a lifetime 

• Most people perceive that the results of a plastic surgery would stay for an individual’s lifetime. The truth is most plastic surgeries last only a few years or over a decade and a revisit to the doctor would be needed. Plastic surgery cannot stop the natural aging process in an individual.

• Plastic surgery is a safe procedure 

Individuals fear that a plastic surgery would mean that they have to risk their lives. The truth is that plastic and cosmetic surgeries are highly safe and effective for more than 95% of the patients.

• Reversing the results of plastic surgery is not always easy 

It is very important to understand that reversing the results of a procedure can be risky, time consuming and not always possible. A botched procedure can cost a lot on the patient’s physical, financial and emotional wellbeing. It is very important to consider a board certified doctor for cosmetic treatments.

Back in the days, plastic surgery was mostly linked to reconstructive surgery. As the times have changed, today, plastic surgery and its cosmetic sub-specialty has gained wide popularity. There is an increase in cosmetic clinics and aesthetic needs like never before in the country. People are now more aware of cosmetic procedures available for addressing their cosmetic concerns. Celebrities and the media too has helped the field of cosmetic surgery gain immense popularity.

There are various types of cosmetic procedures. Some of which include:

• Rhinoplasty
• Liposuction
• Abdominoplasty
• Hair transplantation
• Facelift
• Breast reduction
• Breast augmentation
• Breast reconstruction
• Skin Lightening
• Skin Brightening
• Dermabrasion
• Lip Augmentation
• Scar reduction
• Gynecomastia

Cosmetic surgery for men too is getting more and more prevalent, with many men coming forward to address their aesthetic concerns. Gynecomastia, hair transplantation and skin treatments are the most common procedures that men look for.

The cost of cosmetic surgery in India depends on the type of surgery needed, the hospital and city of treatment, expertise of the doctor and the extent of reconstruction needed. On an average, the cost of a liposuction in India would be between INR 80K to 1.2 lakhs. The cost of a breast augmentation would be between INR 1 lakh to 1.3 lakhs. Skin treatments cost from INR 4000 to INR 40k. Hair transplant cost INR 12k and upwards. Cosmetic surgery cost in Chennai can be anywhere between INR 25K to 1.5 lakhs depending on the type of procedure. Cosmetic surgery in Chennai is gaining widespread acknowledgement, with medical tourism for cosmetic procedures becoming more common. Some of the best cosmetic surgery centers’ in the country is in Chennai. The affordability, quality of treatment and world class care make Chennai a leading city for cosmetic procedures. Cosmetic surgery clinics and prices for treatment can be obtained from various online forums. An in-person visit to clinics would also give a great idea of the facility, treatment costs and expertise of the doctors.

Cosmetic surgery before and after

FAQ

Is plastic and cosmetic surgery the same?

Both plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery are surgical specializations in the field of medicine. The main aim of cosmetic surgeries is to improve and enhance an individual’s look. This is done to make them more appealing and as desirable to the patient’s outlook on beauty. The techniques, procedures and treatments in cosmetic surgery revolve around this need of improving one’s aesthetic appeal. Plastic surgery involves both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery as it sub-categories.

What is the best age for plastic surgery?

Individuals in the age group of late 30’s and early 40’s are ideal candidates for plastic surgery. This is the age in which individuals will start experiencing significant age related issues such as wrinkles, excess tummy fat, hair loss related concerns, skin pigmentation and others.

Is plastic surgery permanent?

No plastic surgery ensures a permanent result. How long a plastic surgery lasts depends on the type of treatment. Often plastic surgical treatments last from a few years to more than a decade. Also, the results of a treatment depend on a variety of factors such as the patients age, condition, response to treatment, post-procedural care and changes in lifestyle. Surgical treatments are said to last longer than non-surgical cosmetic treatments.

What is considered cosmetic surgery?

Treatments (both surgical and non-surgical) that aim at improving a person’s physical appearance is considered cosmetic surgery/treatment.

Some of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures include

• breast surgeries (reconstruction, enhancement and reduction)
• Liposuction
• Tummy tuck
• Facial surgeries (facelift, rhinoplasty (nose surgery), chin enhancement and others)
• Facial treatments for rejuvenation (skin lightening, skin brightening, acne scar reduction)
• Hair transplant surgeries

Is cosmetic surgery safe?

Cosmetic surgery is considered a safe procedure for most patients. Like in all types of surgeries, there is a risk of complication and adverse reactions. Some of these include infection in the site of operations, excessive bleeding, blood clots, complications from anesthesia and other medications and in extremely rare cases, even death.

How much do cosmetic surgeries cost?

The cost of cosmetic surgeries varies widely. Some of the most common procedures like skin treatments start at the cost of INR 4000. Treatments that involve the use of latest technology and surgeries will have costs that could be around INR 80k to 1.5 lakhs. Some treatments might also need more than one session for complete results. Hence the cost will depend on various factors and a cosmetologist could help with the exact treatment costs.

What is the most common cosmetic surgery?

Laser treatments and hair transplants are a very common cosmetic treatment. Some of the most common surgical cosmetic treatments include

• Breast augmentation
• Breast reduction
• Liposuction
• Breast lift
• Facial procedures such as rhinoplasty and lip augmentation
• Dermabrasion

Is there an age limit for plastic surgery?

Plastic surgery is best advised for the age group of 18-60 years. Although there is no strict law that, parental consent and approval is required for children and teenagers. Individuals with various medical conditions such as heart diseases, hypertension, cancer and others are not recommended to undergo plastic surgery. Individuals over 60 years of age should stay away from cosmetic surgery since the risk of a complication is high.

Is a plastic surgeon better than a cosmetic surgeon?

A plastic surgeon would be more skilled at reconstructive surgeries that help with reconstructing a part of the body to meet all functional needs. He would also be good at providing an aesthetically appealing result while performing reconstructive surgeries. A cosmetic surgeon solely specializes in giving his/her patients a better aesthetic appeal and often works on reshaping a part of the body.

Why is cosmetic surgery so popular?

Most individuals desire to have better features and yearn to make changes to their physical appearance. Some would want to make corrections to their nose, eyebrows, chin, lips and so on. Although, there is no ideal when it comes to beauty many people still want changes. Cosmetic surgery gained immense popularity between 1970s and 1980s with many celebrities opening up about their cosmetic treatments. Facelifts and rhinoplasty was some of the most commonly performed procedures.

What is the success rate of plastic surgery?

Plastic surgery has given patients great results and has a success rate of about 95%. Complications from a plastic surgery can be assessed well before surgery. Most complications arise especially in patients with pre-existing conditions. Fewer than one percent patients have been reported to have major complications from a plastic surgery.

Does plastic surgery make you age faster?

Aging is a natural process and plastic surgery does not stop aging. The results of a plastic surgery could last many years for patients but most definitely the results will die down. Aging continues even after a plastic surgery and the person would experience skin sagging and diminishing physical youthfulness. Other factors such as a person’s lifestyle, their physical health and medications taken, food habits and more contribute to the aging process. Plastic surgery does not make individuals age fast but would be affected by the natural aging cycle.

How much does a face plastic surgery cost?

A face plastic surgery in India would cost between one lakh to two lakhs Indian rupees. The exact cost would depend upon what are the face related procedures that the patient opts for.