The vast majority of patients of plastic surgeons are adults who seek to correct congenital or acquired defects of appearance. But it happens that the operation is required by adolescents, children and even babies. Aif.ru told what plastic surgery and in what indications can be carried out by young patients Plastic surgeon, maxillofacial surgeon, otorhinolaryngologist, candidate of medical sciences Julia Vokskaya.
Despite the fact that plastic surgery is allowed from the age of 18, there are medical indications for operations that can or even need to be performed without waiting for the patient’s adulthood in order to avoid the development of psychological and physiological problems. In this case, the decision on the operation is made by parents.
Our expert called several types of such interventions.
Otoplasty. Correction of ear shells can be carried out from five years old. At this age, the child’s ears are already formed, and the ears themselves are practically no different from the ears of an adult. As a rule, the reason for the otoplasty is the psychological discomfort of the child, which is mocking due to his lopomicity. “I recommend that you carry out otoplasty before the child goes to school,” commented Julia Window. -That is, five to six years-a completely suitable age. In addition to lopomic, the operation can save from other congenital defects, for example, pathology of the structure of the ear shells. ”
Rhinoplasty. A nose correction operation is usually carried out after 18 years, however, with a congenital pathology that interferes with full breathing, an operation in the nasal area can be performed earlier. “Girls can operate on their nose already at the age of 15, and it is still better to wait for the guys to wait for adulthood,” the expert says. – This is due to the fact that the closure of growth zones in girls occurs earlier. Although it is believed that a person grows up to 21 years, the active growth of bones ends a few years earlier, so I do not see contraindications for rhinoplasty at 15-18 years old, especially if the difficult nasal breathing or severe nose deformation prevents the patient from fully living. ”
Reconstructive cheiloplasty. The crevice of the lips, which is also called the hare lip, is a fairly common pathology. According to the expert, approximately one child out of 800 newborns has a cleft lip from birth. Heiloplasty eliminates not only an aesthetic defect, but also ensures the correct development of the child’s jaws. In this case, reconstructive plastic is carried out in three months if the child weighs at least six kilograms.
Uranoplasty. “One of the 2500 newborns has a cleft of the hard sky (wolf mouth) that separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity. If the pathology is not eliminated in time, then the jaw and teeth will grow incorrectly, and the child will have problems with eating and breathing, ”the expert warns. “Therefore, uranoplasty is also carried out at an early age-from six to eight months, if the patient weighs at least six kilograms.”
Distraction. “With the syndrome of Pierre Roben – congenital underdevelopment of the lower jaw – the child, shortly after birth, install special distaction devices that push the bone of the lower jaw. This technically complex procedure is carried out according to vital indications so that the child can breathe on his own, and it is normal, ”says Julia Window.
Skull plastic. Cranioplasty can be performed in infancy. The operation corrects congenital and acquired defects of the bones of the skull. If we are talking about pathologies that worsen the patient’s health, then it makes no sense to wait until the child grows up. Cranioplasty is carried out even by two -week babies.
Emergency cases. Of course, emergency situations may occur in life when you can not do without the help of plastic surgeons. These experts help minimize the consequences of various injuries, for example, after burns, accidents and other emergency accidents. For example, plastic surgeons are restored by the skin and faces after injuries. And in these cases, of course, the age of patients does not matter.
Source: aif.ru