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There is no-one-size-fits all plastic surgery procedure, as surgeries are offered and performed in different capacities to suit varying goals. These surgeries all involve different techniques and approaches, require different preparation, and have different recovery timelines.
It is important to know what nuances come with the surgery you are preparing for, as all surgeries will look different, and modifications may be made to meet your needs.
At GraceMed, we perform a wide variety of procedures. Use our guide to familiarize yourself with the processes that come with the different types of plastic surgery we offer.
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Plastic Surgery Categories
Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery is the practice of enhancing or modifying your appearance so that it matches what you desire. Getting this type of plastic surgery can do much more than improve the way that you look. It can improve the way that you feel about yourself, too. If certain aspects of your appearance have taken a toll on your self-confidence and esteem, cosmetic surgery could change that. You could regain confidence in yourself and be happier with what you see when you look in the mirror.
Types of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery:
- Liposuction: Liposuction is a procedure that removes stubborn fat deposits from various parts of the body (arms, stomach, thighs, hips, chest, etc.). The goal is to leave the desired area slimmer and flatter, revealing the natural shape underneath.
- To learn more about the different types of liposuction, check out our blog post on the topic!
- Tummy Tuck: A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a procedure where excess fat and skin are removed from the abdominal area to give it a smoother, contoured appearance. It also strengthens and tightens the weak muscles, leaving the patient with more abdominal definition. Click here to see how you can book a consultation for a tummy tuck in Mississauga.
- Ear Surgery: Cosmetic ear surgery (otoplasty) improves the shape, proportion and position of the ear. People who have macrotia (overly large ears) or ears that stick out prominently are good candidates for this surgery. Children older than 5 are often eligible for this procedure.
Reconstructive Surgery
Cosmetic surgery’s main purpose is to change your appearance to match your desires. Reconstructive surgery’s purpose is to correct a physical problem or side effect — this isn’t to say that the results of reconstructive surgery aren’t attractive. It’s to say that attractiveness is a secondary motivation for the procedure. The primary one is physical well-being.
Knowing the differences between these two types of plastic surgery is especially important when you’re considering costs. Reconstructive surgeries are often covered by insurance whereas cosmetic surgeries often aren’t. Click here to see what OHIP covers.
Types of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery:
- Breast Reconstruction: Breast reconstruction is a procedure that restores the shape, size and appearance of the breast as best as possible. It is achieved through implants or flap reconstruction, which uses tissue from another part of the body. Breast reconstruction is common for patients who have undergone mastectomies or lumpectomies.
- Breast Reduction: Breast reduction is a procedure that involves removing excess skin and fat from the breasts through liposuction. Women who suffer from chronic neck, shoulder and back pain because of their breast size tend to turn to this surgery to get long-term relief. Click here to learn more about liposuction and breast reductions.
- Gynecomastia: Men who have gynecomastia (male breasts) can get a mammoplasty in order to reduce the size of their breasts and reshape them into firmer, more masculine pecs. These results are accomplished by removing excess fat and skin — and in some cases, glandular tissue — from the area.
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Types of Plastic Surgery
“Cosmetic” and “reconstructive” are not the only categories that you can apply to surgical procedures. You can also divide up the different types of plastic surgery based on the areas that you intend on improving, like the face, body or breasts.
Face
These surgical procedures take place on the face and neck. The majority of them remove excess skin and fat to diminish common signs of aging, like facial folds, wrinkles, jowls and pouches. So, anyone who is tired of purchasing anti-aging creams and serums that don’t offer significant results can look into surgery as a solution. It will yield noticeable results in a short amount of time.
Types of Facial Plastic Surgery:
- Facelift: Facelift surgery (rhytidectomy) tightens underlying muscles, lifts tissues and removes excess skin in and around the face. The goal of this procedure is to smooth out any deep wrinkles and folds in the skin, making the patient look fresher and younger. Click here to read our practical guide to facelifts.
- Blepharoplasty: Blepharoplasty is a type of facial plastic surgery that focuses on the upper and/or lower eyelids. The goal is to remove the excess fat and skin causing drooping or sagging. This will give the patient smoother skin and a more youthful look.
- Brow lift: An endoscopic brow lift, also known as a forehead lift, surgically raises the brow area. This type of plastic surgery can smooth out wrinkles and deep lines in the forehead, elevate the brows and reduce signs of drooping or sagging.
Body
This category involves all cosmetic or reconstructive surgeries that don’t take place on the face or neck. These types of plastic surgery can take place on the arms, thighs, chest, tummy, buttocks and even genitals.
The majority of body surgery is designed to remove excess fat and skin. If you have tried to use diet and exercise for targeted weight loss but have yet to see the desired results, this type of plastic surgery could be the solution for you. You can directly target and remove the stubborn fat, giving yourself a slimmer, contoured shape.
Surgical procedures for the body are often more invasive and complex than procedures for the face. This means that they typically require longer timelines for recovery. For example, patients looking into Brazilian Butt Lifts will have to dedicate approximately 6 weeks to their recovery before resuming any normal activity.
Types of Body Plastic Surgery:
- Thigh Lift: Thigh lift surgery involves reducing excess skin and fat in order to adjust the size, shape and appearance of the thighs. The goal of this procedure is to give the patient thighs that are smoother, firmer and more proportionate to their body than beforehand.
- Brazilian Butt Lift: A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a buttock augmentation procedure. The goal of this surgery is to increase the overall size of the buttock while also improving its shape and contour. It will make the area fuller and curvier than before.
- Arm Lift: An arm lift (Brachioplasty) involves the reshaping of the upper arms (between the elbow and armpit) by removing excess skin and fat. The goal of this procedure is to give the patient arms that are better contoured to the natural muscle, along with smoother, firmer skin.
Breasts
Women across the globe get plastic surgery to help them change the shape, size and appearance of their breasts. Research from 2019 ranked breast augmentation as the number one procedure on the list of the top surgical cosmetic procedures in the world. Breast lifts and breast reductions were not too far behind, taking sixth and seventh place.
These plastic surgery types are especially popular with moms who are unhappy with the changes that motherhood had on their breasts. Some look into lifts or augmentations because their breasts have lost significant volume after nursing. Some look into reductions after finding that the volume of their breasts didn’t decrease enough. These are effective solutions for postpartum problems.
Types of Breast Plastic Surgery:
- Breast Augmentation: Breast augmentation enhances the volume, shape and cleavage of the breasts by inserting implants filled with a saline solution or cohesive silicone gel into the area.
- Breast Augmentation (fat transfer): Breast augmentation can be achieved through fat transfer instead of implants. The procedure uses liposuction to remove fat from another area of the body and then inserts it into the breasts. This will offer a small size increase and natural-looking results.
- Breast Lift: A breast lift (mastopexy) is a procedure that involves removing excess skin before reshaping the breast. The surgeon may also elevate the nipple, reduce the size of the areola and improve any asymmetry. The goal is to give the patient breasts that are perkier and fuller.
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Choosing the Right Type of Plastic Surgery for You
As you can see, there are a lot of different types of plastic surgery available to you. How do you know that you’re picking the right one?
The first thing that you should do is dedicate time to doing research. You don’t want to rush into a procedure and find out that there was a better option when it’s too late. You want to be confident that you’ve made the best choice. Make a list of the procedures that pique your interest, and then narrow it down afterward.
If you’re having trouble narrowing down the list, consider the following factors:
Cost
Patients should expect to spend between $2,000 to $20,000 for their plastic surgeries. The more complex the procedure, the higher the costs will be.
Insurance can help with these costs. Certain types of reconstructive plastic surgery are covered by OHIP and private insurance, like breast reduction, rhinoplasty and otoplasty (if you’re 18 years old or younger).
If the procedure that you want doesn’t work with your budget, you should see whether there are non-surgical options that can give you the results that you’re looking for. For instance, if you don’t have the budget for a facelift, you can look into injectables like Botox or dermal fillers to smooth the appearance of wrinkles and folds.
Timeline
Time is another important factor to consider. You will have to take time off to undergo the procedure and recover from it. Some types of plastic surgery will require weeks of rest to recuperate. This timeline could affect your job, schooling and other responsibilities. You should only consider surgeries that you have the time to recover from.
Goals
Think about what you want out of your surgery. Do you want to change one part of your body or multiple areas? Do you want a subtle change or a complete makeover? You can determine the type of plastic surgery that you want based on your goals.
For example, patients that are looking into breast augmentation can choose between implants or fat transfer. If they want a significant size increase, they could get silicone or saline implants. If they want a small change with natural-looking results, they could get a fat transfer.
Specialist
The final aspect that you need to consider when planning your plastic surgery is who will do it. To guarantee the best results, you will want to find a surgeon that specializes in the procedures that you’re hoping to get.
How do you know that they’re the right specialist? Look at their medical clinic’s website to see what credentials and professional associations they have. Read patient reviews online. Look for photos of patient results for different types of plastic surgery. For instance, you can browse through plastic surgery before and after photos on our website to see what our previous patients looked like after recovery.
And finally, confirm what plastic surgery types the surgeon specializes in during your consultation.
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Plastic Surgery at GraceMed
If you’re looking for a specialist for your plastic surgery procedure, look no further than GraceMed. We offer all types of plastic surgery with a high level of professionalism and dedication to our customer satisfaction and comfort.
Our doctors and nurses have the credentials to provide safe procedures and top-quality results for patients. We are associated with the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Canadian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
We have locations across the Greater Toronto Area. You can find a world-class plastic surgery clinic in North York, Burlington, Oakville and Mississauga. Contact us to book your first surgical consultation! We can help you figure out the right surgery for you so that you can get the results that you’ve been hoping for.
