Is Plastic Surgery Right for Your Child?

Many people do not realize that plastic surgery is a very common option for children who have been born with certain medical conditions or suffered serious injuries. These procedures not only restore key bodily functions, but they also allow children to grow up feeling comfortable in their own skin. By taking care of your child's cosmetic issues early, they may never have to struggle with a negative self-image.

Cleft Palates

Cleft palates are one of the most common reasons why children need cosmetic surgery. According to the CDC, over 7,000 children are born with cleft lips or cleft palates every single year. While these defects are generally not dangerous, they can make it difficult for children to eat and speak later on in life. Luckily, reconstructive surgery for cleft palates is more effective than ever with a very high success rate.

Craniofacial Syndromes

This is a blanket term that is used to describe any head or face deformations that have taken place due to a birth defect, a disease, or an acute injury. For most children, craniofacial deformations occur during their birth or while they are still in the womb. By treating these cosmetic issues early, your surgical team will have a much better chance of completely restoring the child's appearance. Shriners Hospitals for Children—Cincinnati and other such institutions accomplish this by manipulating the bones as they begin to harden and fuse.

Birthmarks

The vast majority of birthmarks are completely harmless, but they can impact an individual's confidence if they are extremely prominent or in a visible location. This is especially true of birthmarks on the face such as a vascular lesion or skin pigmentation issue. Much like craniofacial deformations, taking care of these cosmetic problems at an early age is often very beneficial to the child. As they continue to grow, their body will produce proteins that continue to lessen the visibility of the birthmark.

Hand Deformations

Having webbed fingers or extra fingers can be very taxing on a child's self-esteem—not to mention their ability write and do other such functions. It will also make it difficult for them to carry out many of the same activities as their peers, and that will further hamper their development. Depending on which condition the child has, most hand deformations can easily be treated with advanced procedures that leave very few scars.

Deciding if your child needs cosmetic surgery is a very personal choice that should be discussed with your family and your child's doctor. Elective surgery is always daunting, but it could be exactly what your child needs to build the confidence they deserve.