What is a Reconstructive Surgeon?

Although reconstructive surgery generally falls under the broad category of plastic surgery, the reconstructive surgeon does not typically involve himself with cosmetic procedures. A reconstructive surgeon is focused upon returning a body to functionality after it has been impaired via accident, disease, or birth defect. He also strives to return the body to a normal, or as normal as possible, appearance.

Not all doctors engaged in reconstruction specialize in plastic surgery. For instance, orthopedic surgeons might rebuild joints such as the hip, knee, or rotator cuff. An orthodontist or maxillofacial surgeon would normally perform repairs to the mouth, face, and jaw area. It is the specialty of reconstructive surgery, however, that one most often considers when seeking an operation that returns both form and function to a damaged body.

One difference between a cosmetic surgeon and a reconstructive surgeon is that insurance more often covers procedures performed by the latter. Cosmetic repairs are often elective, based upon a patient’s desire to improve his appearance or enhance his self-esteem. Reconstruction is frequently necessary for proper health. This is especially true in terms of correcting birth defects or abnormalities, mending trauma derived from injuries, and mitigating the loss of use that can arise from tumors, cancers, or various debilitating diseases.

For example, a reconstructive surgeon would attend to a child with a cleft lip or palate. A person seeking collagen injections in his lips would be seen by a cosmetic surgeon. A woman who has undergone a mastectomy or requires a breast reduction would seek the services of a reconstructive surgeon. A woman who wished a breast enlargement would visit a cosmetic surgeon.

Many reconstructive surgeons now spend a great deal of time dealing with the after-effects of skin cancer. Skin cancers are increasing at a record rate, and though they can occur on virtually any part of the body, most are found above the neck. Reconstructive surgery, when related to skin cancer, can involve anything from making scars less noticeable to rebuilding facial structure. Healthy tissue and skin flaps may be grafted from one area of the anatomy to the other. Various body parts – noses, ears, or lips, to name a few – may require full reconstruction.

Reconstructive surgeons are usually members of such groups as the American Board of Facial, Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS), or the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). In Europe, these specialists would likely hold credentials with the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery (EBPRAS) or the European Association of Plastic Surgeons (EAPS). The criteria to become a reconstructive surgeon requires several years of specialty work and accreditation, as well as the completion of special residency programs and the passing of extensive oral and written exams.