The Benefits of Minimally Invasive Procedures vs. Plastic Surgery
If you have been researching plastic surgery procedures online, there is a good chance that you have encountered the phrase “minimally invasive” more than a few times. What you may be wondering, however, is exactly what it means and why it is so important. Is there any particular benefit to a “minimally invasive procedure” versus a traditional plastic surgery procedure? Before you commit to undergoing any surgery, it is essential that you understand all of your options and what they entail - including whether you would, indeed, benefit from a procedure that is “minimally invasive.”
At Mesna Plastic Surgery in Minneapolis, minimally invasive procedures are available to our patients, along with comprehensive patient education that allows prospective candidates to understand exactly what is involved in these procedures. Plastic surgeon Gregory T. Mesna takes the time to sit down with each patient in a private consultation and answer his or her questions, address his or her concerns, and explain his or her treatment options. He invites you to read on to learn more about minimally invasive plastic surgery and skin care procedures and to jot down any questions or thoughts you have so that they can be raised during your initial consultation.
What Does “Minimally Invasive” Mean?
On its face, this may seem like a simple question with a simple answer, but many people misunderstand the phrase. For one, there is a difference between “minimally invasive” and “non-invasive.” There is no such thing as a “non-invasive” surgical procedure - by definition, all surgery involves some invasiveness. All plastic surgery procedures involve at least a tiny incision in the skin followed by the insertion of surgical tools through this incision.
With this in mind, the phrase “minimally invasive” is highly relative, depending on the area of the body where a procedure is being performed and the goal of that procedure. A mini tummy tuck involves a much smaller incision than a traditional tummy tuck; however, compared to minimally invasive face lift, the incision is somewhat more substantial. Likewise, the size of the incisions used in a minimally invasive face lift is comparatively larger than those used in blepharoplasty, and so on.
It is therefore best to think of “minimally invasive” as using techniques and technologies that allow Dr. Mesna to achieve the desired results through the smallest incisions possible. How small those incisions can possibly be depends on the procedure being performed.
The Benefits of Minimally Invasive Techniques
In virtually every type of plastic surgery, it is now possible to work through smaller incisions than were possible in the past. Dr. Mesna is the master of the minimal incision; his training, experience, and skill, combined with the state-of-the-art instruments he uses to perform plastic surgery, help to ensure that patients will achieve outstanding results through the smallest incisions possible. In this sense, every procedure that Dr. Mesna performs is “minimally invasive,” especially compared to the traditional methods used to perform these procedures.
The benefits of minimally invasive procedures versus traditional plastic surgery procedures include:
- Less scarring, visible and otherwise
- Reduced bleeding, swelling, and bruising
- Shorter healing times
- Less risk of complications from surgery
- Less trauma to healthy tissues
- More aesthetically pleasing results
Learn More about Minimally Invasive Plastic Surgery
To learn more about the benefits of minimally invasive plastic surgery, please contact Mesna Plastic Surgery today.