Plastic Surgery Answers

Why Plastic Surgery?

People turn to plastic surgery for reasons that can be both aesthetic and reconstructive.

Medical reasons for plastic surgery involves corrective procedures implemented as a result of severe burns, facial bone fractures, congenital abnormalities, infection, or the removal of tumors, cancer, or other dangerous or debilitating growths. In these situations, plastic surgery is recommended by a qualified dermatologist or surgeon as a necessity to save a life and/or repair obvious disfigurement.

Aesthetic plastic surgery is surgery done for the sake of appearances and is usually classified as cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgery can be a lot of different things. More complex cosmetic surgeries involve reforming various areas of the body, including breast augmentation (breast implants), abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), or liposuction. Facial cosmetic surgery includes everything from wrinkle reduction through Botox injection to chemical peels to the physical reshaping of the chin, cheek, eyes, and nose.

The term "plastic" surgery has nothing to do with plastic. Although substances like silicon are used in both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, the term "plastic" refers to the process of molding material to produce a conscious shape. Doctors who administer this service are either dermatologists (skin doctors) specifically qualified to perform the treatment or plastic surgeons that specialize in skin surgery.

There are varying levels of plastic surgery, from large transformations that are surgically invasive to simple procedures that are not technically surgical in nature. This website offers an introductory look at plastic surgery as a medical practice, a controversial topic, an industry, and an increasingly popular cultural phenomenon in the pursuit of beauty. Information provided here also includes resources on some plastic surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists, and plastic surgery centers throughout the country where prospective patients can seek doctor-assisted information and consultation in areas throughout the United States.