Plastic surgery refers to any surgical procedure performed to change or mold the skin or other body parts. The term plastic surgery is derived from the Greek word “plastikos,” which means to mold or give form. Many plastic surgeries involve repositioning or moving the skin and some underlying tissues to change the form or appearance of the face or other parts of the body.

Plastic surgery can generally be divided into two categories: cosmetic and reconstructive.

• Cosmetic surgery is performed on generally healthy body structures, reshaping them to improve appearance. Most cosmetic surgeries are elective procedures, meaning they are not considered necessary for health. Many changes occur in the body and on the skin as a natural result of aging. The skin sags, wrinkles and responds to changes in weight and exposure to the environment. Cosmetic surgeries that focus on wrinkles or related conditions of aging skin may improve appearance, but cannot stop the aging process.
  
  
• Reconstructive surgery usually involves improvement of function, but it may improve appearance as well. Some reconstructive surgeries include those to correct a cleft palate (a birth defect that occurs when the tissues of the roof of the mouth do not properly fuse during fetal development) or to reconstruct breasts after mastectomy to treat breast cancer. Other reconstructive procedures treat skin damaged by wounds such as deep lacerations or burns.

Both types of plastic surgery can be a part of treating a patient to achieve overall wellness. Diseases may be cured or controlled with medications, but may still produce body changes that require surgical repair. Traumatic injuries may require initial life-saving treatment and at a later stage involve plastic surgery to restore appearance.

Some plastic surgery procedures are relatively simple and may be performed in a clinic or physician’s office with just a local anesthetic. These include hair restoration procedures and blepharoplasties (eyelid lifts). Others are major surgeries that involve hospitalization, general anesthesia and lengthy recovery times. These may include some tumor removals, abdominoplasties (tummy tucks) or facial implants. Many procedures can be performed in either manner, depending on patient preference and cost.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 10.2 million cosmetic surgery procedures were performed in 2005. In addition, more than 5.4 million reconstructive procedures were performed, the vast majority of them involving tumor removal.

Liposuction (the removal of body fat with surgical equipment) was the most commonly performed surgical procedure. Plastic surgeons also performed nearly 8.5 million non–surgical, minimally invasive procedures such as Botox injection and chemical peels.

Some cosmetic procedures now achieve similar results through the use of laser surgery, which uses intense light beams to treat conditions.