What is the difference between cosmetic and reconstructive surgery?
Generally speaking, if a surgery is done primarily to improve the health of a person, or the function of an organ, it is considered medically necessary. Surgeries such as corrective rhinoplasty to improve air flow through the nose, or eyelid surgery to improve the field of vision by lifting sagging, droopy eyelids might fall into this category. These surgeries may or may not also improve the patient’s appearance, but this is a secondary purpose. If a surgery is done with the primary goal of improving the appearance of the patient, this is considered a cosmetic procedure. Usually these procedures must be paid for out of pocket, except in some cases of correcting accidental or congenital deformity. It is worth noting that these lines are often blurry, especially in terms of coverage by medical insurance. As an example, a scar revision for an automobile accident injury may be covered by an auto insurance policy, yet another surgery, identical from a medical standpoint, that resulted from
Aesthetic plastic surgery is structural cosmetic surgery including changing the shape of normal structures (nose, ears, chin, cheekbones and neckline) in order to improve the patient’s appearance , and help reverse the signs of aging. Reconstructive surgery is performed on the abnormal structures of the face and body, caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease. It is generally performed to improve function, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance.
Cosmetic plastic surgery is performed to enhance or change a healthy, normal, functioning part of the body. Nothing but the patient’s desire for physical improvement necessitates cosmetic plastic surgery. Reconstructive surgery, however, is intended to correct a physical abnormality caused by a birth defect, disease or tumor, physical trauma, or infection. The goal of reconstructive surgery may be to restore function or an anatomical structure.
Cosmetic surgery is performed to reshape normal structures of the body in order to improve your appearance and self-esteem. Cosmetic surgery is usually not covered by health insurance because it is elective. Reconstructive surgery is performed on abnormal structures of the body, caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease. It is generally performed to improve function, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance. Reconstructive surgery is generally covered by most health insurance policies although coverage for specific procedures and levels of coverage may vary greatly.
Reconstructive surgery is designed to improve function and minimise disfigurement that has occurred as the result of an accident, birth defect or disease. Cosmetic surgery is that subspeciality of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery that is designed to improve a person’s appearance in an aesthetic manner by altering or reshaping a bodily feature.
