Essential Reasons for Plastic Surgery: Addressing Medical & Functional Needs

Plastic surgery is medically necessary when it restores function, corrects deformity, or alleviates significant physical/psychological burden. Key indications:

1. Reconstructive surgery: Post‑trauma, burns, cancer ablation (e.g., breast reconstruction).
2. Corrective surgery: Septoplasty (deviated septum), cleft lip/palate repair.
3. Burn repair: Skin grafts, tissue expansion for severe burns.
4. Hand surgery: Nerve/tendon repair, congenital anomaly correction.
5. Craniofacial surgery: Jaw realignment, skull deformity correction.
6. Gender‑affirming surgery: Chest/genital reconstruction for gender dysphoria.
7. Tumor removal & reconstruction: Skin cancer, sarcoma with complex closure.
8. Microsurgery: Free‑flap transfer, replantation.
9. Facial reanimation: Nerve grafts, muscle transfers for facial paralysis.
10. Congenital defect correction: Vascular anomalies, ear reconstruction.
11. Skin cancer excision & repair: Mohs surgery with reconstruction.
12. Facial trauma repair: Fracture fixation, soft‑tissue reconstruction.
13. Breast reduction: Symptomatic macromastia (neck/back pain, intertrigo, activity limitation).

Decisions involve multidisciplinary assessment balancing medical necessity, patient goals, risks, and expected outcomes.