Plastic surgery is a medical specialty that uses a number of surgical and nonsurgical techniques to change the appearance and function of a person's body. Plastic surgery procedures include both cosmetic enhancements as well as functionally reconstructive operations. In the former case, where aesthetics are considered more important than functionality, plastic surgery is also referred to as cosmetic surgery. Most procedures involve both aesthetic and functional elements.

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 tissues of the body: bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, and skin.

Introduction

The basic goals of plastic surgery include the following:

• Correction of perceived 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 may include:

• Correction of a congenital or acquired deformity
• Correction of a perceived physical imperfection
• Psychological benefits

Techniques and procedures

Common techniques used in plastic surgery are:

• incision
• excision
• microsurgery
• chemosurgery
• electrosurgery
• laser surgery
• dermabrasion
• liposuction

In plastic surgery the transfer of skin tissue (skin grafting) is one of the most common procedures. (In traditional surgery a “graft” is a piece of living tissue, organ, etc., that is transplanted.

• Autografts: Skin grafts taken from the recipient. If absent or deficient of natural tissue, alternatives can be:
  • Cultured Sheets of epithelial cells in vitro.
  • Synthetic compounds (e.g., Integra--a 2 layered dermal substitute consisting superficially of silicone and deeply of bovine tendon collagen with glycosaminoglycans).
• Allografts: Skin grafts taken from a donor of the same species.
• Xenografts: Skin grafts taken from a donor of a different species.

Usually, good results are expected from plastic surgery that emphasizes:

• Careful planning of incisions so that they fall in the line of natural skin folds or lines.
• Appropriate choice of wound closure.
• Use of best available suture materials.
• Early removal of exposed sutures so that the wound is held closed by buried sutures.

Cosmetic surgery

Cosmetic surgery is a very popular form of plastic surgery. In 2006, nearly 11 million cosmetic plastic surgeries were performed in the United States alone.

Within the U.S., it is legal for any doctor, regardless of speciality, 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.

• Mammoplasty

- Breast augmentation (or "breast enlargement" or "boob job"): Augmentation of the breasts. This can involve either saline or silicone gel prosthetics.

- Breast reduction : Removal of skin and glandular tissue. Indicated to reduce back and shoulder pain or for psychological benefit in women with macromastia.

• Buttock augmentation (or "butt augmentation" or "butt implants"): Enhancement of the buttock. 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), glicolic acid (AHA), or salicylic acid (BHA) as the active agent.
• Mastopexy (or "breast lift"): Raising or reshaping of breasts. Involves removal of breast skin as opposed to glandular tissue.
• 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 (e.g. hyaluronic acid)
• Laser skin resurfacing
• Injection of dermal fillers (collagen, hyaluronic acid, fat, and others)

In recent years, a growing number of patients seeking cosmetic surgery have visited other countries to find doctors with lower costs. These medical tourists get their procedures done for up 50 percent or more cost savings in countries including Cuba, Thailand, Argentina, India, and some areas of eastern Europe. The risk of complications and the lack of after surgery support are often overlooked by those simply looking for the cheapest option.