Introduction

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:

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

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:

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.