Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure to recreate breasts. The entire process may involve several surgeries.  

What Are the Types of Breast Reconstruction Surgeries? 

Breast reconstruction surgeries are mainly of two types: 

• Flap Reconstruction: 

During this procedure, your plastic surgeon will take tissue from your own body and use it to create a breast. The tissues are generally taken from your lower abdomen but can also be taken from the thighs, back, or bottom. 

This involves removing fat, skin, blood vessels, and muscles from part of your body to create a new breast. Sometimes surgeons may also move a flap from your body as it will retain its blood supply.  

• Implant Reconstruction: 

During this procedure, your plastic surgeon will use saline or silicone implants to recreate breast tissue.  

During the procedure, your plastic surgeon will: 

• Give you an anaesthesia. 

• Insert an implant in your chest in case of implant reconstruction. 

• Take tissue from one part of your body to place a new breast in case of a flap procedure. 

• Insert a drain or thin tube under your skin to drain fluid and blood from your body. 

What Happens After a Breast Reconstruction Surgery? 

After the surgery, you will be moved to a recovery room and may be required to stay in the hospital for up to a week.  

What Are the Risks Associated with a Breast Reconstruction Surgery? 

The surgery may lead to: 

• Blood clots. 

• Asymmetrical breasts. 

• Fat necrosis. 

• Bruising or scarring of reconstructed breasts. 

• Problems with implants. 

• Weakness or sensitivity at the site.

Burns refer to wounds to skin or other tissues that are brought on by heat, radiation, electricity, chemicals, or radioactivity.  

Burn victims may experience severe problems that may affect their physical and mental well-being. This may require surgery to get the patient back to normal life.  

What is the Procedure for Burn Reconstructive Surgery? 

A reconstructive burn surgery focuses to enhance the functionality and aesthetic appeal of burn scars. This may be done by any of the below methods: 

• Skin Graft: 

Skin graft refers to a healthy patch of skin that is taken from one part of the body and used to cover another area preferably where the skin is damaged. These grafts are also of three types, viz., split-thickness, full-thickness, and composite skin graft.  

• Bone Grafts: 

This is a surgical procedure to replace missing bones. During this procedure, your surgeon may take a bone from either the pelvis or iliac crest and replace it in the preferred area.  

• Tissue Expansion: 

Tissue expansion refers to your body’s natural ability to “grow” extra skin. During this procedure, your surgeon will use a silicon balloon expander to insert under the skin area to be repaired. The area will be filled with saline solution, enabling the skin to stretch and grow.  

• Flap Surgery: 

This procedure involves the creation of a skin flap using tissues from other parts of the body including the back, abdomen, or buttocks. 

• Microvascular Surgery: 

This procedure involves transferring skin, muscles, or bones with the artery and vein to the site requiring reconstruction. This is usually done to reattach fingers, hands, arms, or other amputated parts to the body by restoring circulation. 

What Happens After a Burn Reconstruction Surgery? 

After the procedure, you will be moved to an intensive care unit (ICU) to monitor your symptoms. You may be required to stay in the hospital for at least a week. The time taken to return to your daily life may vary depending on your condition.

Scar revision refers to a treatment to reduce the appearance of scars left on your skin after healing wounds. The goal of this surgery is to help your scar match the texture and colour of your skin. 

Why Do You Need a Scar Revision? 

You may need scar revision if you have scarring from: 

• Acne. 

• Burns. 

• C-section. 

• Skin infection. 

• Traumatic injuries. 

• Cosmetic or reconstructive surgery. 

• Cleft lip repair. 

How is Scar Revision Done? 

Depending on your condition, your scarring may be improved by any of the below methods: 

• Topical Treatments: 

Your doctor may apply topical gels or creams to the surface of your skin to heal wounds or mild scars. If needed, a self-adhesive polyurethane bandage may also be applied to reduce your scar’s hardness and size. The major drawback with this procedure is that it may not show results instantly and you may be required to use it for several months. 

• Injectables: 

Your doctor may also conduct skin resurfacing by removing the top layers of your skin with the help of chemical peels, dermabrasion, derma planning, light or laser therapy, skin bleaching, or microneedling.  

• Surgery: 

If treatment with the above procedures is not possible, your surgeon may recommend surgery. The surgery will be done either with Z-plasty or W-plasty. This involves cutting the scarred skin into a “Z” or “W” which gives the skin more movement after healing. 

What Are the Risks Associated with Scar Revision? 

The risks associated with scar revision include: 

• Contact dermatitis. 

• Swelling, redness, or blistering. 

• Infection. 

• Bleeding. 

Microvascular surgery is a reconstructive surgery that is used to graft tissues, bones, and muscles. It is generally used to reattach severed hands, fingers, arms, or other amputated parts to the body. 

What Happens During Microvascular Reconstruction Surgery? 

The surgical procedure depends on the area of the body being reconstructed. The surgery is carried out under general anaesthesia and several treatments may be used during the process: 

• Skin grafting. 

• Soft tissue covers. 

• Tendon transfers. 

• Callus distraction. 

• Local or musculocutaneous flaps. 

Depending on your condition, multiple surgeries may require long hours and intricate work. Immediately after the procedure, the surgeon will apply a bandage to the area and drain excess fluid with a tube. You may also receive a splint or brace to provide complete immobilization.  

What Happens After Microvascular Reconstruction Surgery? 

You may experience severe discomfort which can be managed by prescription medications. Sutures can be removed in about a week. Some patients may experience bruising or swelling which may subside in 5-10 days. 

Maxillofacial is a term that refers to “two-thirds” of the face below the eyes. A maxillofacial surgery is performed to repair facial defects from birth including cleft lip, surgery, injury or correct uneven facial features.  

Why Do You Need a Maxillofacial Reconstruction? 

You may require a maxillofacial reconstruction, if you have: 

• Birth defects. 

• Facial injuries. 

• Receding chin. 

• Uneven jaws. 

What Happens During a Maxillofacial Reconstruction? 

The surgery is usually an outpatient procedure which means that you can go home on the same day. Depending on your condition and the type of procedure conducted, you will receive anaesthesia following which the surgeon will close your wounds. 

What Happens After a Maxillofacial Reconstruction? 

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery area and you may experience: 

• Bleeding and swelling. 

• Bruising. 

• Limited use of jaw and teeth. 

The symptoms, however, will subside in a few days after the surgery. 

Skin grafting is a surgical procedure which involves taking healthy skin from one part of the body and transplanting it to cover damaged or missing skin. Within a few days, the newly grafted skin begins to develop blood vessels and connect to the skin around it.  

What Are the Types of Skin Grafts? 

A skin graft surgery may be conducted with any of the following approaches: 

• Split-thickness Skin Graft (STSG): 

During this procedure, your plastic surgeon will remove the top and second layer of the skin. The healthy skin will be taken from your belly, back, thigh, or bottom and used to cover large areas of damaged or missing skin. It will take you about 1-2 weeks to heal from the procedure. 

• Full-thickness Skin Graft (FTSG): 

During this procedure, your surgeon will remove and transplant the top and entire second layer of your skin. The healthy skin may be taken from the arm, collarbone, or groin and transplanted on areas that you may not require clothing to cover such as your face. Since the transplanted skin in this procedure is thicker, the healing time is longer. 

• Composite Graft: 

During this procedure, your surgeon will transplant skin as well as cartilage or other soft tissues. These grafts are used to repair damage to the nose, ears, and fingertips. 

Why Do You Need a Skin Graft? 

You may need this surgery if you have skin loss due to: 

• Infection. 

• Burns. 

• Skin ulcers. 

• Slow healing wounds. 

What Happens During Skin Graft Surgery? 

During the procedure, your surgeon will: 

• Give you an anaesthesia. 

• Make an incision and remove healthy skin from the donor site. 

• Poke little holes in the recipient area and place the healthy skin over the damaged area. 

• Put a dressing over the area. 

What Happens After a Skin Graft Surgery? 

After the surgery, you may be required to stay in the hospital for up to 2 weeks until your skin heals completely.  

What Are the Risks Associated with Skin Graft Surgery? 

Skin grafts are safe but the surgery may lead to: 

• Infection. 

• Pooling of blood or pus underneath the transplanted skin. 

• Injury to the damaged site. 

• Bleeding. 

• Discoloured or patchy skin. 

• Loss of skin sensation. 

A tissue expansion surgery is a procedure to promote the growth of healthy supplementary skin used as a replacement for damaged skin. The surgery can be performed on any area of the body and allows surgeons to repair both congenital and acquired defects. 

Why Do You Need Tissue Expansion? 

You may need tissue expansion for: 

• Breast reconstruction. 

• Repairing or replacing areas of the scalp. 

• Reconstruction of face, neck, arms, or legs. 

What Happens During a Tissue Expansion? 

The entire procedure takes about one to two hours and the time depends mostly on the size and area of skin to be treated. During the procedure, your surgeon will: 

• Give you an anaesthesia. 

• Make an incision and insert a silicone balloon expander in a pocket created beneath the skin. 

After a few days when your incision has healed, you will have to return to your surgeon’s office to fill the expander. The expander consists of a self-sealing valve or gas cylinder that allows the surgeon to fill it with saline or carbon dioxide. As the expander enlarges, your skin will also stretch. This may cause a minor discomfort.  

When your skin has stretched enough to cover the affected region, you will have a second surgery to remove the expander and reposition the new tissue.  

What Happens After a Tissue Expansion? 

After the surgery, you may feel a little discomfort which may subside within a few days. The time to resume your daily routine may depend on the length, type of surgery, and complexity of the procedure. 

Surgery to reconstruct the nose is called nasal reconstruction. This may be required to treat trauma, cancer, or birth defects. 

The surgery aims to reconstruct and restore the structure and function of the nose. The nose is made of three main layers: inner lining tissue, middle bone and cartilage, and outer covering tissue or skin. Each of these layers is required to be reconstructed depending on the size, shape, location, and depth of the deformity. 

What Happens During the Nasal Reconstruction? 

During the procedure, your surgeon may use a variety of techniques to reconstruct the nose based on the location, size, shape, and depth of the nasal defect. This includes: 

• Cartilage grafts. 

• Skin grafts. 

• Local flaps. 

• Secondary intention healing. 

• Regional flaps. 

• Suture closure. 

Depending on your condition, these procedures may be used alone or in combination. If you have small defects, these can be reconstructed in a single surgery. Large defects, however, may warrant multiple surgeries.  

What Happens After Nasal Reconstruction? 

Recovery after the procedure will depend on the techniques that were used. Smaller defects will take around 1-2 weeks to recover and larger defects may require 5-7 days of recovery. 

Ear reconstruction is a surgical procedure to rebuild a damaged ear. The ear may be damaged due to trauma or cancer surgery or may be misshapen due to a birth defect. 

What Are the Types of Ear Reconstruction Surgeries? 

Depending on your condition, your surgeon may perform ear reconstruction surgery in one of the following ways: 

• Microtia Repair: 

Microtia refers to a tiny ear and is a condition in which one or both outer ears are either small, malformed, or absent. This condition is rare and occurs once in 6000 births. A surgery repairs microtia by creating a new ear from your tissue or with a prosthetic ear. 

• Otoplasty: 

Otoplasty refers to a cosmetic procedure to repair the outer ear. 

• Ear Defect Repair: 

Trauma or cancer surgery can lead to tissue loss which may require plastic surgery to restore the form and function of the outer ear. 

How is Recovery After the Ear Reconstruction? 

Your recovery after the procedure may depend on the extent of the reconstruction. You may experience a mild discomfort that may also disrupt your sleeping pattern (if you are used to sleeping on the side). Complete recovery will take about 2-3 weeks. 

Gender affirmation surgery involves several procedures that help your body align with your gender. The surgery may be conducted if your sex assigned at birth differs from your gender identity or if you have gender dysphoria. 

What Are the Types of Gender Affirmation Surgeries? 

These surgeries may include: 

• Facial Reconstructive Surgery: to make your facial features masculine or feminine. 

• Vocal surgery to change the pitch of your voice. 

• Chest or top surgery to either remove breast tissue or enhance breast size. 

• Genital surgery to transform or reconstruct your genitals. 

What Happens During Gender Affirmation Surgery? 

For several people, gender affirmation surgery is a combination of procedures. During the procedure, your surgeon will: 

• Give you an anaesthesia. 

• Remove or restructure your organs or tissues. 

• Construct new organs from existing tissues. 

• Insert implant or tissue grafts (if required). 

Depending on the surgery types or complexity, the procedure may either be completed in a single day or different surgeries may spread out over time.  

What Are the Risks Associated with Gender Affirmation Surgery? 

Since this is a complex surgical procedure, it may involve certain risks: 

• Bleeding. 

• Infection. 

• Problems with wound healing. 

Craniofacial surgery is a procedure that focuses on reconstructing or correcting congenital or acquired deformities including skull, face, and jaws. 

Which Conditions Are Treated by Craniofacial Surgery? 

Craniofacial treats the following conditions: 

• Cleft lip and palate. 

• Craniosynostosis. 

• Facial microsomia. 

• Facial trauma. 

• Facial deformities or tumours. 

What Happens During a Craniofacial Surgery? 

During the surgery, your plastic surgeon may conduct the surgery via different approaches including: 

• Bone grafting and osteotomies. 

• Soft tissue reconstruction. 

• Facial prosthesis and implants. 

Depending on the type, location, number, and complexity of the surgery, the time may vary. The surgery may be completed within one hour or require a full day. 

What Happens After a Craniofacial Surgery? 

After the surgery, you may be moved to a recovery area and discharged on the same day or 1-2 days.  

Your body consists of 43 pairs of nerves that control movement and coordination throughout the body. Surgery of the nerves is focused on restoring this function.  

Why Do You Need a Nerve Repair Surgery? 

You may require nerve repair surgery if your nerves are torn, stretched, compressed, or damaged beyond normal healing. It can be due to: 

• Traumatic accidents. 

• Nerve entrapment. 

• Nerve tumours. 

What Happens During a Nerve Repair Surgery? 

During the procedure, your surgeon will: 

• Give you an anaesthetic. 

• Make one or several incisions on your hand to assess the injury and view the damaged nerve under a high-magnification microscope. 

• Remove the injured or scarred nerve tissue from the ends of the damaged nerve. 

• Reconnect the ends by using a graft or by nerve transfer. 

• Close the incisions. 

What Happens After a Nerve Repair Surgery? 

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery area. You may also receive a sling or brace to reduce your hand movement. 

Lymphedema refers to swelling in various areas of your body due to any substance affecting your lymphatic system. The lymphatic system collects extra fluid, protein, and toxins from your cells and returns them to your bloodstream. If it doesn’t work well, it may cause your body to accumulate excess fluid and swelling.  

What Are the Symptoms of Lymphedema? 

The common symptoms of lymphedema include: 

• Swelling in your arms, legs, or other parts of the body. 

• Your organs may feel heavy or full, especially your arms or legs. 

• Puffiness or redness in the skin. 

• Arms or legs of different sizes. 

• Inability to feel veins in your hands or feet. 

• Burning or itching sensation. 

• Thicker skin. 

How is Lymphedema Treated? 

Lymphedema may be treated with any of the following methods: 

1. Physical Treatment: 

This includes a combination of physical therapy or garments or bandages to move fluid from areas by lymphedema.  

2. Surgery: 

If your condition cannot be treated with physical treatment, your doctor may recommend surgery. The surgery may be of the following types: 

• Lymphatic Bypass Procedure: 

This involves connecting and rerouting lymphatic vessels and veins to avoid blockages and allow lymph to drain into your venous system. 

• Lymph Node Transfer: 

This involves replacing damaged lymph nodes with healthy ones taken from other areas in your body. 

• Debulking: 

This involves surgical removal of skin, fat, and tissues in the affected region and placing a skin graft over the area. 

Abdominal wall reconstruction is a complex surgery that is mainly performed for hernia repair, scar repair, and repairing damage caused by a previous surgery.  

Why Do You Need Abdominal Wall Reconstruction? 

You may need abdominal wall reconstruction if you have: 

• Recurrent hernias. 

• Incisional hernia. 

• Infection due to a previous surgery. 

• Unhealed wound after hernia repair. 

• Cancer. 

What Happens During an Abdominal Wall Reconstruction? 

Since the surgery is complex, it may take up to 2-4 hours to complete depending on your age, conditions, and complications. 

The surgery may either be performed by traditional means or by laparoscopy. During the procedure, your surgeon will reshape the abdominal tissues by separating all layers of the abdominal wall and placing a mesh behind each layer to support your abdominal muscles.  

What Happens After an Abdominal Wall Reconstruction? 

After the procedure, you may be required to stay in the hospital for up to 5-6 days. You will be able to resume your life after 5 weeks. 

What Are the Risks Associated with an Abdominal Wall Reconstruction? 

As with any other surgery, an abdominal wall reconstruction may also cause: 

• Wound healing problems. 

• Bruising. 

• Haematoma. 

• Infection. 

• Chest infection. 

• Bleeding. 

• Seroma.

A limb reconstruction surgery involves rebuilding a bone or joint using a frame called an external fixator. It is attached to the bone via screws, plates, or wires. The limb attached to a frame can either be straightened or lengthened to correct a deformity and allow the bone and tissue to regrow naturally. 

Genital reconstruction or vaginoplasty is a surgery to repair your vagina due to damage from other medical conditions, injury, or other factors. It can also be done as a part of gender affirmation surgery. 

What Happens During Genital Reconstruction? 

During the procedure, your surgeon will: 

• Remove extra or sagging tissue. 

• Use stitches to secure loose tissue into your vaginal canal. 

• Reduce the opening size of the vagina by either pulling back or removing excess tissue. 

What Happens After Genital Reconstruction? 

After the procedure, you may be required to stay in the hospital for 1-2 days.  

What Are the Risks Associated with Genital Reconstruction? 

The surgery is safe but may involve certain risks including: 

• Numbness or loss of sensation. 

• Infection. 

• Dyspareunia.