Many types of plastic surgery are cosmetic surgery, which reshapes normal structures to improve their appearance. Some of the most common cosmetic surgical procedures include:

• Liposuction. Procedure where a surgical tube is used to remove excess fat from various areas of the body.
  
  
• Rhinoplasty. Surgery to resize or change the shape of the nose. It may be merely cosmetic or may improve the function of the nose for breathing.
  
  
• Blepharoplasty. Surgery on the eyelids to correct sagging lids or remove fatty deposits, although it does not affect “crow’s feet” wrinkles on the temples. Blepharoplasty may be performed with other facial procedures, including a facelift or browlift.
  
  
• Facelift (rhytidectomy). Surgery to lessen wrinkles and minimize some signs of aging. A surgeon makes incisions near the hairline to pull back the skin, remove fat and tighten facial muscles. Facelifts are frequently performed with other facial surgeries.
  
  
• Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). Procedure to tighten muscles and remove skin from the abdomen.
  
  
• browlift (forehead lift). Surgery to remove forehead lines and elevate the eyebrows. An incision is made near the hairline to lift the skin of the forehead and either remove tissue or move muscles that cause forehead furrows. The eyebrows may also be elevated on the forehead and any excess skin is trimmed. Forehead lifts are frequently performed with other procedures, including hair transplants or facelifts.
  
  

  

• Hair restoration. Surgery to fill balding areas with a patient’s own hair. Several procedures are used. They include reducing the size of the bald portion of the scalp or moving sections with hair from the back or sides of the head to the top. Some hair restorations surgeries may be permanent, although they may require additional grafts to blend the areas with hair.
  
  
• Otoplasty. Surgery to reshape or reduce the prominence of the ears. Cartilage inside the ear may be removed or reshaped to keep the ears closer to the head. The ears stop growing before adulthood, so this procedure may be safely performed on both children and adults. Most otoplasties are performed on children younger than 14.
  
  
• Facial implants. Materials such as silicone or soft tissues may be implanted to reshape the lips, chin or cheeks.

Cosmetic surgery may also be used to lift and tighten skin and muscles in the breasts, thighs, buttocks or upper arms.  Cosmetic surgery may be performed after extreme weight loss, such as the type that occurs following gastric bypass surgery. When a person loses weight, the skin usually retains some flexibility and shrinks to fit the smaller size. Patients who lose large amounts of weight may have excess skin that has lost its elasticity and is too large for the smaller body. Surgery can remove sections of this excess skin.  

In addition, plastic surgeons and well trained dermatologists perform numerous cosmetic procedures that may be much less invasive than traditional surgery and in some cases, have replaced traditional surgical procedures. Some of these procedures involve the use of laser surgery, where an intense beam of light is used to treat skin conditions. Some of the common less invasive cosmetic surgery procedures include:

• Botox injections. Type of botulinum toxin injected into facial muscles to reduce lines. It is most often used on the forehead area, around the eyes and between the eyebrows.
  
  
• Facial skin rejuvenation. General term for chemical and laser therapies that focus on removing wrinkles and lines on the face. It is also used to treat pigmented areas.
  
  
• Chemical peels. Use of various chemical applications to refresh the skin and remove pigmented lesions.
  
  
• Dermabrasion. Surgical use of a high-speed brush to remove facial scars from acne or other disorders.