Reconstructive surgery is performed to restore the normal appearance and functionality of the body, a process that can often be life-changing. Reasons for undergoing reconstructive surgery can include medical conditions and diseases, birth defects, and accidents. Becker Plastics offers high-level reconstructive surgery for patients in the Princeton, NJ, and Philadelphia, PA areas.
Types of Reconstructive Surgery
Reconstructive surgery can be performed for both aesthetic and functional reasons. Each patient has unique needs, meaning that the surgery is highly customized. Some of the most common types of reconstructive surgery include the following:
Facial Reconstructive Surgery
Facial reconstructive surgery is a term encompassing all procedures that help to address trauma, genetic abnormalities, and illnesses that affect the face. Your doctor may be able to restore functions such as smiling, blinking, comfortable eating, and speech.
The face is a complex network of intertwining parts that work together so you can interact with your environment. This means that the surgeon can target nerves, bone, ligaments, skin, and soft tissue in the face to restore functionality and appearance.
Nose Surgery
Nose surgery is mostly associated with cosmetic improvement but can also be vital for helping people live better, more comfortable lives. Also known as rhinoplasty, nose surgery is performed to make changes in the shape of the nose.
Your nasal cavity is essential to your breathing and the draining of your sinuses. A deformity, whether from birth or acquired from disease or trauma, can cause you to suffer. If you suffer from allergies, a malformed nose can exacerbate symptoms.
This is where an experienced and expertly-trained plastic surgeon can step in and help. Depending on your case, post-traumatic or functional rhinoplasty will provide the relief you need.
Scar Revisions
Scars can result from accidents, surgical incisions, burns, or illness. Depending on the position of the scar, it may restrict the function of a body part. For instance, a scar near the eye can hinder your ability to blink normally.
Beyond an improvement in your appearance and a fix in functionality, a revision can also help relieve itchiness in some cases. An itchy scar is the product of a sensitive nerve ending that has been damaged. A scar revision can restore comfort in the area by remedying the underlying cause.
Skin Cancer Surgery
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Estimates put the incidence of skin cancer in Americans at about 20% of the population at some point during their lifetime.
Skin cancer is a disease that is most likely to appear in people with fair skin, although anyone can develop it. Too much exposure to the sun over time can cause cell mutations that result in cancerous lesions. Other causes include existing lesions and moles that change over time or a family predisposition.
Luckily, precise surgical techniques are available to remove the mutated tissue. Your doctor will remove thin layers of the cancerous skin and analyze the tissue to ensure you are left cancer-free. A plastic surgeon can then reconstruct the area for aesthetic purposes.
Good Candidates for Reconstructive Surgery
To be a good candidate for reconstructive surgery, you generally have to be in good overall health. Those who do not smoke or consume excessive amounts of alcohol are better candidates due to the resilience and elasticity of their skin.
A consultation with your surgeon in Philadelphia or New Jersey will determine whether or not you are a good candidate for reconstructive surgery. Your doctor will examine you to determine if you can undergo the procedure. You will also be asked to share information on any medication you take or past procedures you have undergone.
Safety of Reconstructive Surgery
Undergoing elective surgery is always a difficult decision to make for prospective patients. However, a reconstructive procedure that has life-improving outcomes with a knowledgeable surgeon is overwhelmingly safe.
It is estimated that approximately one million reconstructive surgery procedures are performed annually. The vast majority of these procedures go according to plan and any side effects or adverse reactions are dealt with promptly and effectively.
New medical technologies and surgical techniques make reconstructive procedures safer than ever. Furthermore, a detailed screening will ensure that everything goes to plan. Your surgeon will monitor your progress and give you tips on controlling any swelling or bruising that may result.
Recovery From Reconstructive Surgery
Reconstructive surgery will require some downtime from your normal schedule for recovery. Depending on the procedure you are having, recovery time can vary. Furthermore, the speed at which you get back into your daily routine will depend on a number of different factors.
For example, bruising around the nose can last for up to two weeks after rhinoplasty. Complete healing of the bones in the nose can take six weeks, depending on how much work was done. On the other hand, wounds from a skin cancer procedure may heal in one week to just under a month.
As you can see, each type of surgery involves a different healing process and will require downtime relative to the type of procedure. A consultation with your surgeon will give you a better idea of what to expect.
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* All patients are unique and individual results may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cosmetic surgery focuses on reshaping parts of a patient’s body for the purpose of aesthetic improvement. There is usually no medical condition that warrants the procedure, but cosmetic surgery can help patients feel more confident and happier in their own skin.
While reconstructive surgery shares many technical aspects with cosmetic surgery, it differs in one key element. Reconstructive surgery is more about addressing the effects disease, trauma and congenital defects have on the body. This means that there is an underlying structural or pathological cause that the surgeon needs to address so that the patient can recover.
Your initial consultation consists of a private session with the surgeon. You will explain your concerns to the doctor and will have the opportunity to ask questions. Feel free to come in with some notes so that you do not forget to address all of your questions and concerns.
The surgeon will review your medical history and ask you questions in order to complete your candidacy assessment. Your doctor will inform you fully regarding the procedure and may give you reading material to take home.
The outcome of your surgery depends on several factors. Your surgeon will help you define what a reasonable expectation should be for your case. Things like age, medical history, and the severity of your underlying condition will dictate what the outcome will be.
A knowledgeable surgeon with years of experience will be able to give you a good idea of what you can expect.
Reconstructive surgery is often invasive and therefore you can expect some discomfort after the procedure. However, with adequate anesthesia, you won’t have to worry about pain during the surgery and, in general, the experience will likely be a lot better than you expect. Your doctor will give you an accurate assessment depending on the type of procedure.
Local or general anesthesia will be used during your reconstructive surgery and you will get pain medication for your recovery. You will also be communicating with your doctor during the healing process to ensure that you are comfortable.
If you live in the states of Pennsylvania or New Jersey, Becker Plastic Surgery offers reconstructive surgery among its services. For a full list of services, please visit our Locations page.
Schedule your Consultation
If you’re seeking reconstructive surgery in Princeton, Philadelphia, Yardley, or Voorhees, book your consultation with one of our surgeons today. You can begin the process by filling out the contact form on our website. We encourage you to include any concerns you may have about your particular needs so we can discuss them in person.
ADDRESS:
256 Bunn Drive, Suite B
Princeton NJ 08540 US
PHONE:
609-279-0009
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Why choose the Doctors at Becker Plastic Surgery
Kirk Lozada, MD, FACS
- Completed his fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania and has trained with the top Facial Plastic Surgeons in Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey.
- Has traveled to Ica, Peru with Healing the Children on multiple occasions performing a high volume of cleft lip and palate surgery.
- Is currently a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and has numerous publications and presentations in the field of facial plastic surgery.
Daniel Becker, MD, FACS
- Board Certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology (ENT).
- Board Certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS).
- Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).
- Top-Rated by US News and World Report, Philadelphia Magazine, South Jersey Magazine, Castle-Connelly, and others.
- Read more about rhinoplasty specialist Dr. Becker’s credentials
Nicole Schrader, MD, FACS
- She is a double board certified surgeon in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology & Head/Neck Surgery.
- Is a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Has over 20 years of experience, 15+ years in private practice and has performed hundreds of facelift surgeries.
- Dr. Schrader Recognized as Best Plastic Surgeon by Town Topics Readers’ Choice Awards.