A Closer Look at Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Procedures
When most people think of plastic surgery, they imagine the many techniques that can remove excess fat, contour the body, or refine the facial features to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. While these various cosmetic plastic surgery procedures can provide patients with a wide array of benefits, one area of plastic surgery that is frequently overlooked is reconstruction. Designed to correct a variety of abnormal structures of the body and face, caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease, reconstructive plastic surgery is generally performed to improve function, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance and improve a patient’s overall quality of life.
One of the best known forms of reconstructive plastic surgery involves the rebuilding of the breast mound after a woman has undergone a mastectomy for the treatment of breast cancer, a procedure commonly known as breast reconstruction. This procedure, which can be performed immediately after the mastectomy, months, or even years later, uses the most advanced plastic surgery techniques and technology to re-create a natural-looking breast that mirrors the form and appearance of the original. Breast reconstruction procedures have been a specialty at Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. for nearly fifty years, ever since Atlanta Plastic Surgery co-founder Dr. Carl Hartrampf, Jr. developed the TRAM flap approach, which is still the preferred technique for natural tissue breast reconstruction around the world.
Reconstructive plastic surgery is also commonly used to help children and adult patients suffering from diseases, defects, or injuries of the face, head, neck, and jaws. Maxillofacial surgery, a specialized form of reconstructive surgery that focuses specifically on the two-thirds of the face below the eyes, can address many common birth defects, such as a cleft lip/palate and abnormalities of the jaw, during infancy, before the bones of the face and jaw are fully formed and before the condition can seriously impact long term functionality. Moreover, maxillofacial surgery can also address a number of issues in adults, including misalignment of teeth, nasal reconstruction, lip revision, and chin surgery, with a variety of specialized reconstructive plastic surgery techniques.
Some reconstructive plastic surgery procedures are generally covered by most health insurance policies although coverage for specific procedures and levels of coverage may vary. At Atlanta Plastic Surgery we offer a number of financing and bill pay options that can be customized to suit each patient’s individual needs. Many of our providers proudly accept health insurance from Humana®, Blue Cross Blue Shield®, Aetna®, Cigna®, United Health Care®, and in some cases Kaiser Permanente® for medically necessary or reconstructive surgery. For cosmetic procedures not covered by insurance, we can provide financing through Alphaeon® or CareCreditSM, a credit card specifically for medical payments that can be used for any number of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery procedures.
If you have additional questions or are interested in learning more details about any of the procedures we offer, please contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. at one of our Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming, or Newnan offices to schedule a consultation. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.
