Reconstructive surgery is a type of plastic surgery used to improve certain health conditions such as burns, birth defects, or deformities caused by cancer. These plastic surgeries are different from cosmetic surgeries that are used to enhance outer appearance. These surgeries specifically repair damaged tissues and deformities in the structure. A plastic surgeon performs reconstructive surgery only after thoroughly studying one’s medical history and present condition. Here are five plastic surgeries for specific health conditions.

• Hand Surgery

This type of plastic surgery fixes impairments in the hands caused by conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, where one’s middle finger bends toward the palm. Such hand deformities can be corrected after undergoing a hand surgery by a plastic surgeon. This type of surgery can also treat diseases that create dysfunction in the wrist and fingers. They are different types of hand surgeries meant to treat specific health conditions. They include tendon repair, closed reduction and fixation, and nerve repairs.

• Breast reduction

Women with large breasts are usually afflicted with back problems as well. This happens because the excess weight on one’s chest makes it difficult to maintain a good posture for a long period of time. In some cases, it may lead to spinal deformity. Breast reduction is a plastic surgery that can specifically treat this condition. It reduces the weight of the breasts and allows the surrounding muscles to support the chest. As this surgery is for health, and not cosmetic, one may cover it under insurance.

• Reconstructive microsurgery

Reconstructive microsurgery can replace certain parts of the body that are affected by cancer, congenital anomalies, or trauma. This type of plastic surgery specializes in repairing microstructures like blood vessels and nerves. The diameter of the area that requires surgery usually needs to be smaller than a few millimeters. Through microsurgery, plastic surgeons can also perform functions like free tissue transfer, replantation, and composite tissue transplantation.

• Facial surgeries

Certain health conditions can affect the functionality of the face. Facial surgeries can rebuild and also reshape major structures on the face. It can fix a cleft lip, chronic nasal infection, or breathing issues like snoring. Those who suffer from facial fractures can also be treated specifically with facial surgery. Plastic surgeons are trained to be able to restore facial functions like hearing, smiling, and blinking.

• Skin grafts

Skin grafts are usually used to treat severe wounds and burns and often leaves a permanent visible scar. In this type of surgery, skin is taken from a certain part of the body and transplanted to another. According to one’s condition, a split-thickness graft or a full-thickness graft might be used to restore the skin. Other than burns, this form of plastic surgery can be used during breast reconstruction or to replace skin affected by skin cancer.