Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
Plastic surgery is used to treat a comprehensive range of conditions involving congenital deformity, cancer and injury-related deformity and loss of function, as well as diverse problems such as facial paralysis and pressure sore surgery. It does not manage large burn injuries, but smaller burns are within the scope of our care.
Plastic surgeons also reconstruct virtually every region of the body (excluding internal organs), and often work very closely with orthopaedic, breast, vascular, ear, nose and throat (ENT) and maxillofacial surgeons.
Plastic surgery is often believed to be the same as cosmetic surgery. The underlying principles and skills are the same, but the work undertaken by plastic and reconstructive surgeons differs from that undertaken for cosmetic reasons.
Hand surgery
Hand surgery is considered a subspecialty of both plastic and orthopaedic surgery, and about one third of hand surgeons have trained as plastic surgeons.
The combined management of extensive lower limb injuries by both plastic and orthopaedic surgeons results in a better outcome for patients. Plastic surgical input into these complex cases can involve providing soft tissue cover for exposed fractures and vascular and nerve repair.
Lower limb surgery
Patients with extensive lower limb injuries have a better outcome when treated by both plastic and orthopaedic surgeons Plastic surgery for these complex cases can involve providing soft tissue cover for exposed fractures and vascular and nerve repair.
Reconstructive surgery
The emergency caseload of plastic surgeons consists mainly of burns, hand injuries, maxillofacial trauma, trauma to the lower limb and surgical management of infections.
Delayed reconstruction for trauma can entail complex surgery, which aims to improve not only appearance but, most importantly, function.
Maxillofacial trauma includes lacerations to lips and eyelids and facial fractures. The management of these injuries overlaps with work done by maxillofacial, ENT and ophthalmic surgeons.
The elective caseload of reconstructive plastic surgeons in the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals revolves around reconstruction of congenital, traumatic, degenerative and neoplastic conditions.
Reconstruction of congenital deformities includes repair of cleft lip and palate, craniofacial defects and hand deformities. This work is a collaborative effort with other healthcare workers, including paediatricians, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and nurses.
Restoration of appearance and function after resection of tumours presents demanding problems requiring thoughtful and skillful solutions. Other areas that plastic surgeons participate in include the treatment of pressure sores and repair of urogenital defects.
Cosmetic surgery
Most cosmetic surgery takes place in the private sector, but here at the Oxford University Hospitals it is based on the techniques and procedures experienced and practised in difficult reconstructive cases.
A whole range of cosmetic surgery and aesthetic procedures are performed by our surgeons. We are so confident of their abilities we offer a satisfaction guarantee on our comprehensive 'fixed price packages'.
Please remember, there are risks involved in undergoing any surgery, and these are explained in full by the consultant in charge of the procedure.