Tarola Plastic Surgery Blog

What is the difference between cosmetic and reconstructive surgery?

Cosmetic surgery is when nothing but the patient’s desire to improve their outward physical appearance necessitates their want for plastic surgery. Cosmetic plastic surgery is performed to change or enhance a healthy, normal, functioning part of the body.

Reconstructive surgery is when the surgery is performed to restore proper functionality to a body part or to achieve physical normality. Reconstructive surgery is intended to correct a physical abnormality caused by a birth defect, tumor or disease, infection, or physical trauma.

Does insurance cover plastic surgery procedures?

When a plastic surgery procedure is being performed for cosmetic reasons, insurance will not be involved. However, insurance may partially or fully cover a surgery when it is necessary for reconstructive purposes.

Some procedures which are often covered by insurance are:

Breast reconstructive – after a masectomy
Tummy tuck – for gastric bypass patients
Eyelid surgery – to correct vision problems

If you are considering a plastic surgery procedure, you should contact your insurance company to find out if your procedure will be covered first. If not, most surgeons will work out payment plans to allow you to get your procedure.

Call our office to set up a consultation at 615-624-8914. We’ll be happy to review all your options with you.

Are you a candidate for plastic surgery?

Before undergoing any procedures, plastic surgery candidates must have realistic expectations and an understanding of the limitations set by medicine, technology, and their own body. Even with how fast technology is evolving, there are still things that simply cannot be done… yet! We never like to use absolutes when it comes to plastic surgery.

Good candidates have a strong self-image and a well-developed reason for wanting a plastic surgery procedure. They know that while this will be a positive change to their own self-image, it will not change people’s perception of them. Unrealistic expectations or dangerous motivations for plastic surgery such as purely doing it to gain popularity, or attempting to reverse recent life crises, are not reasons to persue a plastic surgery procedure.

If you feel you are a candidate for plastic surgery or if you would like to schedule a consultation to go over your possible options, give us a call at 615-624-8914 and we’ll be glad to help.

How young is too young? How old is too old?

There really is no set in stone rule as to the appropriate ages for plastic surgery. The appropriateness of plastic surgery procedures should be examined more on a case by case basis. Certain criteria need to be looked at such as the individual’s unique body type and aging process.

Of course, there are age tendencies for certain procedures. For example, facelifts are generally not performed on patients under the age of 30. In such cases, mini-lifts or laser procedures would be suggested in place of a facelift. Otoplasty (correcting the deformities and defects of the external ear), however, is appropriate for adults of any age or patients as young as 5 years old.

Furthermore, reconstructive surgical procedures allow for patients of almost any age to be performed on. Reconstructive surgery is the use of surgery to restore the form and function of the body to allow for normal functioning. For example, otolaryngologists do reconstructive surgery on faces after trauma and to reconstruct the head and neck after cancer.

We will address reconstructive surgery more in later blog posts.

Do’s and Don’ts for Plastic Surgery

Do’s:

1. Research your doctor

Does your doctor perform a lot of these procedures?
Is your doctor a board certified plastic surgeon?
Ask to see your doctors results from previous procedures they’ve done.
Meet with your doctors patients
Confirm that your doctors facility is accredited

2. Have realistic goals

Realize that this is a serious decision and as with any surgery, there could be potential complications

Don’ts:

1. DO NOT rush into any procedure

Make sure the procedure you’re wanting is right for you
Clarify your surgery goals
Ask all of your questions PRIOR to getting your surgery
Make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into

2. Don’t undergo surgery for the wrong reasons

Do the surgery for yourself, not for any other person or any other reason. Make sure it’s what YOU want and not your significant other, friends or family want.
Don’t expect surgery to change your entire life; do it to make you feel better about yourself

3. Avoid requesting unnatural results/procedures

Many doctors may be willing to perform a procedure that should not be done on your body simply to make money, or to give you a look that THEY think is right
Be realistic about your natural body type, the one you were born with. If you are a petite, five-foot tall woman, be wary of a doctor who believes you should be getting size D implants

4. Don’t let cost determine which surgeon you choose