Reconstructive Surgery Helps Fashion Model Get Back to (Making a) Living.

Sometimes the practice of plastic surgery doesn’t always get the respect it deserves. What many people don’t realize is that plastic surgery is much more than boob jobs and rhinoplasty work. Plastic surgery also helps thousands of Americans recover from serious injuries that result in disfigurement.

Reconstructive surgery is performed by qualified plastic surgeons on patients who have been badly scarred by traumatic events like fires, car accidents, or violent attacks.

Take for example the recent news of model Katie Piper. In 2008, she was attacked and brutally beaten by a stranger, leaving massive scarring damage to her face. As a professional model, this was the face that paid her bills. Think of it as an artist losing their hands—no more painting, no more income. The same for Katie Piper—scarred face, no paycheck.

Thanks to the efforts of plastic surgeons, Katie underwent several reconstructive surgeries to get her face free of the severe scarring from her attack. Now in 2011, she is  free from her scars and back to being a fashion model in high demand. ??

As Piper exemplifies, patients who have suffered an accident that left them with a facial disfigurement often have to deal with much more than physical scars. Katie has taken her tragic incident and started a foundation with the help of her plastic surgeon and star producer, Simon Cowell, to create a dedicated burn and scar rehabilitation center in the UK.

So next time you think about plastic surgery, understand that it’s much more than a superficial practice. Plastic surgery allows people to get back to  living after traumatic, disfiguring events that have invaded their lives. ??

George H. Pope, M.D. is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Pope specializes in Revisionist Surgeries, Rhinoplasty, Gynecomastia, and Breast Augmentations. He and his professional staff also administer injectables, including Botox, Restylane, and Sculptra among others.