Over the last 25 years, there have been remarkable discoveries in the world of plastic surgery. Whether you are resolving a cosmetic issue or one that relates to your health, plastic surgery has made leaps and bounds in the last few decades of what can be done with little time.
Given that there is no regional anatomic focus in plastic surgery, it has always been a technology-driven surgical discipline.There has been an increased understanding of anatomy which has led to new and reliable flaps that have transformed reconstructive surgery with breast reconstruction being one notable example.
The following are procedures that have used technology improvements:
Smartlipo for Liposuction
Over time, medical practitioners such as those from Calgary-based Plastic Surgery Centre have questioned the safety of traditional liposuction while new technology has made it safer than before. Liposuction used to involve the removal of solid fat using a large cannula.
Currently, smartlipo melts fat using laser technology to liquid form which has a quick recovery time and is not invasive. The heat produced from the laser stimulates the healing process of the body because it causes tissues to retract.
Preoperative Planning
Currently, technology can be used by doctors to create personalized plastic surgery solutions. For example, using surgical simulation applications or CT scans to practice surgery before performing it on patients. It has helped in shortening the surgery time while reducing complication likelihoods.
Endoscopic Facelift
There could be traces left during a traditional facelift. Additionally, the risks of nerve damage could lead to numbness in some parts of the body.
With the endoscopic facelift, an endoscope is used to perform the facelift and very small incisions are made along with the temples and scalp. With fewer risks and less scarring now, surgeons can focus on certain areas and produce improved results compared to the traditional facelift.
Biological Products for Tissue Reconstruction
Traditional procedures included removing tissues from one part of the body to be used in another area leading to more procedures and additional scarring. Engineered products currently can form a scaffold for tissue replacement and regeneration.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Currently, patients want to get back on their feet as quickly as possible. Laser skin resurfacing can improve the feel and look of skin with quicker recovery time. However, for maximum improvement, it can be used with other procedures.
Fat Transfer for Breast Augmentation
For women who would like their breast augmentation to be less dramatic and have a natural look, fat can be taken from other areas of their bodies and added to their breasts. This procedure involves the use of small needles to inject fat to there is reduced recovery time.
Women need to put on an external tissue expander when sleeping to create room for additional fat under the skin. This needs to be done a few weeks before the surgery.
Computer-assisted Imaging Improves the Outcome
In both reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery, the use of imaging gives doctors the exact specification that results in a perfect match for the patient. The use of craniofacial surgery is an example of computer-assisted imaging.
If this procedure is not rectified during infancy it can lead to severe deformities during child growth. Therefore, imaging doctors can reconstruct the affected areas in infants and help the tissues to grow with the child. Computer power improves plastic surgery in both efficiency and accuracy.
New Ways of Finding Clients
Previously, doctors used to depend on referrals from previous clients to bring new clients for business sustenance. Currently, there is the creation of an online presence through social media that will bring in more clients.
New Ways of Interacting with Patients
Social media has improved the doctor and patients interaction since a patient can post about their experiences. Doctors have taken advantage of that by encouraging their clients to interact with them on social media platforms.
Final Takeaway
It is exciting to wonder what the future will hold with all these new plastic surgery technologies. The pace of new technology in the field of plastic surgery is likely to increase because research and technology advances are a continual process.
Therefore, a plastic surgery performance tomorrow might look nothing like the surgery of today. I hope that the above article has given you information on how technology has impacted the plastic surgery procedure.
