Special: Plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine

Four doctors expert in the field of plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine, answer our questions about this specialty at number 37 of Mas Que Salud.

Do you want to know what they have told us? These are the questions we have raised:

1-What level of professionalism has plastic surgery in Spain? 

2- What surgeries are the most demanded currently?

 

Dr. Andrés Nemseff’s answers:

1- Plastic Surgery in Spain can be considered as largely advanced and updated, both at the Aesthetic and Reparative level. Perhaps some therapies where the latest technology is essential are not available to the entire population due to the economic constraint.
2- Breast surgery, implants, body contouring due to weight change, liposuction and facial rejuvenation techniques.
Minimally invasive treatments such as fillers, Botox, and tightening threads, are also in demand, because of their scarce cost and rapid recovery.

Dr. José Salvador’s replies:

1- Plastic surgery in Spain is at the European forefront.

The quality and professionalism of plastic surgeons formed in Spain have nothing to envy to other neighbouring countries. Even it shows its competitive side with the most powerful countries such as the US and Brazil.

2- The most demanded surgeries in our area are still those related to the breast, both breast augmentation and breast sagging, lift, and breast reduction, among others.

Secondly, those surgeries related to the liposuction body contouring.

 

Dr. Teresa Bernabeu’s answers:

1- Plastic surgery enjoys high international prestige in Spain, just like the rest of medicine specialties. The training of this specialty is carried out using the well-known MIR system. It is a training period of 5 years.

Plastic surgery is a surgical-scientific specialty that contributes significantly to the welfare of society.

It is a pioneer in many medical advances such as the application of regenerative medicine using stem cells to a fat level.

In our country, the number of plastic surgery operations is very common. It is accessible both in public and private medicine, where the latest techniques are applied.

2- The most demanded surgery in Spain at present is, undoubtedly, breast surgery. Not only breast augmentation is included within this group – although it is one of the most frequent and well-known operations; the entire breast surgery is also included.

Breast reduction, for example, applied to excessively large breasts and sometimes fibrocystic and painful, is the best solution to health problems, such as backaches and neck pain, eczema and skin changes in areas of breast folds, as well as drawbacks to finding appropriate clothing.

Remodelling of breast deformity known as tuberous or tubular breasts is also very common. This disease has different degrees and appearances. It can range from a significant asymmetry to a lack of breast development at its poles growing only at the expense of the areola and the nipple. To solve such a disease, different surgical techniques merge, and there is a carving of the gland, mammary pexias, and placement of breast implants.

Of course, common breast reconstruction surgery after ablation of breast cancer is also highly common. Different techniques are available for this purpose. The most common one is the use of fatty grafts for reconstruction. Nor should we forget the increasingly frequent replacement or removal of breast implants, due to a breakage or some other cause. Breast implants have a shorter life than the patient. This is why they have to be replaced in ranging from 6 to 18 years after the implantation. Also within breast surgery, breast surgery in men is also included. It is known as subcutaneous mastectomy for the repair of gynecomastia or enlarged breasts in the male sex.

Dr. Antonio Monaco’s replies:

1- Spain is one of the countries in Europe where cosmetic surgery is more developed. Becoming a plastic surgeon in Spain, and throughout Europe, is a long and competitive process. In Spain, the law and patients require a high level of treatment. Therefore, a qualified professional always operate in private hospitals with all safety standards and, in addition to his specialized training, he updates himself on the latest knowledge of the matter through courses, conferences, and personal study.

Unfortunately, not all Cosmetic Surgeons are Plastic Surgeons and, therefore, qualified in Surgery – both Repairing and Cosmetic. The patient can simply check the surgeon’s level of training verifying that he belongs to the medical college as a specialist in plastic surgery, to Secpre and, of course, having references from other patients.

2- Certainly, the more demanded surgeries are the ones regarding breast surgery, especially breast augmentation. The most demanded second requested option is body surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks. There is a high demand for facial surgery in our Institute due to the presence, in the Levante area, of many foreigners over 60 who ask eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) and facelift. Lipofilling is also much developed – the fat transfer technique. The facial surgery uses this kind of surgery associated or not to lift for rejuvenation of the face; or even in body surgery, where liposuction goes together with breast augmentation or buttocks avoiding the use of prostheses. Finally, we must bear in mind that surgery is always a high-demanded discipline for its aesthetic and functional purpose.