Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery

Plastic surgery takes its name from the Greek word “plastikos,” which means to “form” or “mold.” It includes a group of procedures that alter certain areas of your body. These include your face, neck, breasts, stomach, arms and legs. The terms “reconstructive plastic surgery” and “cosmetic surgery” may seem similar, but they represent different types of procedures.

Reconstructive surgery repairs defects or injuries from trauma. It also restores function and a natural-looking appearance.

You may need this type of surgery if you have:

• Birth defects, such as webbed fingers, cleft lip and palate.
• Burns.
• Certain medical conditions, like head and neck cancer or breast cancer.
• Scars that prevent natural movement.
• Severe injuries, like cuts or tears over large areas of skin.

Cosmetic surgery enhances appearance for nonmedical reasons. This group of procedures addresses physical features that make you self-conscious. Cosmetic surgery can bring you closer to your ideal body image. This type of surgery changes features such as:

• Shape.
• Size.
• Symmetry (creating more of a mirror image between two similar body parts, such as breasts).