- What shall I do if I am interested?
- Choosing the right plastic surgeon
- What are the reasons for undergoing surgery?
- What is plastic surgery?
- Do I need to obtain a referral form from my GP?
- Will the outcome be natural or artificial?
- How much pain is involved?
- What happens in case of dissatisfaction?
- What about payment and fees?
- Operations on instalments
- Legal notice
What is plastic surgery?
Plastic surgery is a medical speciality focused on changing and improving the appearance and function of a person’s body. The word “plastic” derives from the Greek “plastikos” which means to mold or to form.
Plastic surgery is roughly subdivided into two categories:
- Reconstructive Surgery - Reconstructive Surgery – is performed to reshape and correct the abnormal structure and functional impairments of the body caused by birth defects or gained throughout the life – in accidents, diseases etc.
- Cosmetic Surgery - Cosmetic Surgery – operations to improve the patient’s appearance. Cosmetic surgery is designed to correct a congenital or acquired cosmetic imperfection. That is to reshape undesirable, bizarre and atypical features (a large or crooked nose, protruding ears, small or assymetric breast) according to individual wishes or to change them so that they follow conventions and general acceptable norms corresponding with a particular time and location, or to put right the signs of regimen disorders, pregnancy, aging etc. (wrinkles, bald heads, sagging skin or drooping breasts, overweight and others...)
You must understand that most surgical interventions combine the features of both these categories which means that the basic surgical techniques are used in all surgical areas in spite of slightly different purposes. This for example means that even cosmetic surgery leaves surgical scars!
Even some very old historical sources mention some surgical techniques used both in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery which supports the fact that beauty and apperance or correction of functional impairments has always played an important role in lives of people, even centuries ago.
Contemporary history of plastic surgery dates back to the period of the First World War and we are pleased to know that it was a Czech academic Burian and his pupils, whose name is world-wide and forever connected with this event.
Nowadays, it is beyond doubts that succesful cosmetic surgery – if it is carried out on an individual with a good general prerequisite for improvement – can and tends to have psychological benefits, mostly in terms of gaining self-esteem and self-confidence. For this reason, plastic surgery is sometimes referred to as PSYCHOSURGERY.
It is to be noted that cosmetic surgery is advisable only for people who are mentally stable. On the other hand, mental disorders (depression, manic-depressive symptoms, schizophrenia etc.) however being treated and stabilized are good reasons for not undergoing cosmetic surgery (contraindications of the surgery), as the chances of satisfaction, and especially long-lasting satisfaction, are very small. Again, in extreme circumstances the whole situation may even turn against the patient himself and lead to the patient’s health deterioration.
What is most important to realise is that plastic surgery is here for you to improve some aspects of your appearance, to help you gain self-confidence or self-esteem. It is beyond its power to solve your problems of vital importance, such as unhappy marriage or your desire to become a film star! It is absolutely essential for you to consider carefully your reasons for undergoing a plastic operation and make sure your expectations are realistic.
There are several thousands of people who undergo cosmetic surgery in the Czech Republic every year – and this number tends to rise. Time was when plastic operations were only for celebrities. Now more and more “ordinary” people go for it since they are convinced it is worth it.
