Reconstructive Plastic Surgery in Germany

Surgeons who perform reconstructive plastic surgery procedures include general surgeons, gynecological surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, podiatric surgeons, pediatric surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons, otolaryngologists and plastic surgeons. They do reconstructive surgery on faces, the head, and neck after incidents such as trauma and cancer.

Reconstructive plastic surgery techniques vary from very simple ones such as primary closure and dressings to more complex tissue expansion, skin grafts and free flaps.

Cosmetic surgery is an extension of reconstructive surgery in which the main expectation is an improvement in appearance. Cosmetic surgery procedures include facelifts, breast enhancement, rhinoplasty, reconstruction liposuction, reduction and lift, blepharoplasty, laser resurfacing, chemical peel, nasal reconstruction, and abdominoplasty.

Congenital conditions

• These conditions are those that are present at birth. Examples of congenital conditions treated with reconstructive surgery include:
• Cleft lip and palate
• Vascular anomalies such as birthmarks
• Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and certain haemangiomas
• Prominent ears constricted ears and microtia
• Hypospadias
• Craniofacial conditions
• Hand deformities

These conditions are those that develop or occur after birth. They can involve accident and injury or disease and infection. Acquired conditions include:
• Cancer
• Infection
• Trauma
• Burns
• Hand surgery
• Arthritis, paralysis, ganglions, and Dupuytren’s contracture.

• Skin grafts: These involve taking a healthy patch of skin from one area of the body, commonly known as the donor site; and using it to cover a separate area where the skin is damaged or missing. The piece of skin is placed in the recipient site and requires blood vessels to grow into it when placed in the ‘recipient site.
• Tissue expansion: This is a procedure that stretches the surrounding tissue enabling the body to grow extra skin. A balloon-like device called an expander is gradually filled with salt water and then inserted under the skin near the area to be repaired, causing the skin to stretch and grow. The size of the area to be repaired and the individual case determine the time involved in tissue expansion.
• Flap surgery: This involves the transfer of a living piece of tissue, which from one part of the body to another. This is in conjunction with the blood vessel that keeps it alive. Flaps carry their own blood supply, unlike a skin graft, thus can be used in repairing more complex defects. This kind of surgery can be used to restore form and function to areas of the body that have lost fat, skin, muscle movement and skeletal support. There are three main types of flap i.e. local flaps, regional flaps and distance flaps.