The Four Basic Steps in Plastic Surgery- #3
Step 3: Sculpting.
Following dissection, the underlying tissues are revealed and the sculpting is performed according to the surgical plan designed for the desired changes. I firmly believe that consistent natural results can only be achieved through an aesthetic understanding of normal human form.
Unnatural results are usually related to a surgeon’s distorted aesthetic. This distorted look has become the frequent topic of our pop culture and the Hollywood media. Surgical “before and after†photos are an excellent way to judge a surgeon’s aesthetic eye and the likelihood of a particular look following cosmetic surgery.
Please check back next time for Part 4 of this series and coming soon: Lisa’s Rhinoplasty surgery (nose job) blog.
There are three kinds of sculpting involved in cosmetic surgery. They are all based on the final desired result and utilize the same standard principles of artistic sculpting. We add to make something larger, we subtract to make something smaller and/or we rearrange to change a shape. Therefore, the sculpture template for each surgery, involves the addition, subtraction or rearrangement of structures beneath the skin, fat or muscle. The following procedures are some examples of cosmetic surgery sculpting.
Augmentation mammoplasty or breast enlargement obviously involves adding an implant beneath the breast. Positioning of the implant, centering it beneath the nipple and choosing the largest diameter to match the patient’s breast diameter all combine to yield the most natural results. Liposuction and liposculpture reduce localized fat collections. Fat is selectively removed to reshape the treatment areas. Enough fat must be removed to reduce the fat collection, but perhaps more importantly, it is to know how much fat to leave after surgery. Take too little and the result is not sufficient. Take too much, serious scarring can yield dimpling and depressions. The optimum result relies on this delicate balance. Another surgery requiring the use of sculpting is the facelift. This surgery involves the repositioning and redraping of the facial skin and muscle. Suturing the cheek muscle on itself, just beneath the cheekbone, significantly improves facial appearance. This technique also elevates the fat, which has sagged to form unwanted jowls. Re-draping of the skin reduces the facial wrinkles and tightens the neck. Rhinoplasty or nose surgery uses all three of these techniques combined to yield the most natural look. I believe that when it is done well, the sculpting part of cosmetic surgery yields a naturally aesthetic result.
Please check back next time for Part 4 of this series and coming soon: Lisa’s Rhinoplasty surgery (nose job) blog.
