Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty that involves the reconstruction, restoration, or alteration of the human body. It focuses on improving aesthetic appearance and enhancing function. Plastic surgeons are medical doctors who have undergone specialized training to perform these procedures.

What does plastic surgery include?

Plastic surgery includes both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures:

Reconstructive plastic surgery

In general, reconstructive surgery is done on abnormal structures of the body that may be caused by:

• Injury

• Infection

• Developmental abnormalities

• Congenital (present at birth) anomalies

• Disease

• Tumors

This type of surgery is often done to improve function. It may also be done to change how someone looks.

Cosmetic plastic surgery

Cosmetic surgery is done to fix or reshape otherwise normal structures of the body. It’s generally done to improve how someone looks.