The word “plastic” derives from the Greek plastikos meaning to mold or to shape; its use here is not connected with the synthetic polymer material known as plastic. Plastic surgeons typically mold and reshape the following body tissues: bone, cartilege, muscle, fat, and skin.

Introduction

The basic goals of Plastic Surgery include the following:

• correction of disfigurement
• restoration of impaired function
• improvement of physical appearance

During Plastic Surgery the following procedures are common:

• Tissue may be moved to fill a depression, to cover a wound, or to improve appearance.
• Tissue may be completely removed to alter the contours of a feature.

The benefits of Plastic Surgery include:

• correction of a congenital or acquired deformity.
• correction of a perceived physical imperfection.
• psychological benefits.

Within the U.S,. critics of plastic surgery note that it is legal for any doctor, regardless of specialty, to perform cosmetic surgery. It is thus important to distinguish the terms “plastic surgery” and “cosmetic surgery”: Plastic Surgery is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties as the subspecialty dedicated to the surgical repair of defects of form or function — this includes cosmetic (or aesthetic) surgery, as well as reconstructive surgery. The term “cosmetic surgery” however, refers to surgery that is designed to improve cosmetics, or appearance. In several countries including Australia, many doctors who are not qualified as surgeons also perform cosmetic procedures.

The most prevalent aesthetic/cosmetic procedures are listed below. Most of these types of surgery are more commonly known by their “common names.” These are also listed when pertinent.

• Abdominoplasty (or “tummy tuck”): reshaping and firming of the abdomen
• Blepharoplasty (or “eyelid surgery”): Reshaping of the eyelids or the application of permanent eyeliner, including Asian blepharoplasty
• Augmentation Mammaplasty/breast augmentation (or “breast enlargement” or “boob job”): Augmentation of the breasts. This can involve either saline or silicone gel prosthetics.
• Buttock Augmentation (or “butt augmentation” or “butt implants”): Enhancement of the buttocks. This procedure can be performed by using silicone implants or fat grafting and transfer from other areas of the body.
• Chemical peel: Minimizing the appearance of acne, pock, and other scars as well as wrinkles (depending on concentration and type of agent used, except for deep furrows), solar lentigines (age spots, freckles), and photodamage in general. Chemical peels commonly involve carbolic acid (Phenol), trichloroacetic acid (TCA), glycolic acid (AHA), or salicylic acid (BHA) as the active agent.
• Mastopexy (or “breast lift”): Raising or reshaping of breasts
• Labiaplasty: Surgical reduction and reshaping of the labia
• Rhinoplasty (or “nose job”): Reshaping of the nose
• Otoplasty (or ear surgery): Reshaping of the ear
• Rhytidectomy (or “face lift”): Removal of wrinkles and signs of aging from the face
• Suction-Assisted Lipectomy (or liposuction): Removal of fat from the body
• Chin augmentation: Augmentation of the chin with an implant (e.g. silicone) or by sliding genioplasty of the jawbone.
• Cheek augmentation
• Collagen, fat, and other tissue filler injections (eg hyaluronic acid)
• Laser skin resurfacing
• Injection of dermal fillers (collagen, hyaluronic acid, fat, and others)

• burns
• traumatic injuries, such as facial bone fractures
• congenital abnormalities, such as cleft lip, or cleft palate
• removal of cancers or tumors, such as a mastectomy

Common reconstructive surgical procedures are: breast reconstruction for women who have had a mastectomy, cleft lip and palate surgery, contracture surgery for burn survivors (Stress ulcers (Curling’s ulcer); one of the complication of severe burns.[2] [3]) , and closing skin and mucosa defects after removal of tumors in the head and neck region.

Plastic surgeons developed the use of microsurgery to transfer tissue for coverage of a defect when no local tissue is available. Tissue flaps comprised of skin, muscle, bone, fat or a combination, may be removed from the body, moved to another site on the body and reconnected to a blood supply by suturing arteries and veins as small as 1-2 mm in diameter.