When you hear of plastic surgery, what do you think of? A
Hollywood star trying to delay the effects of aging? People who
want to change the size of their stomachs, breasts, or other
body parts because they see it done so easily on TV? Those are
common images of plastic surgery, but what about the 4-year-old
boy who has his chin rebuilt after a dog bit him? Or the young
woman who has the birthmark on her forehead lightened with a
laser? What Is Plastic Surgery? Just because the name includes
the word "plastic" doesn't mean patients who have this surgery
end up with a face full of fake stuff. The name isn't taken from
the synthetic substance but from the Greek word plastikos, which
means to form or mold (and which gives the material plastic its
name as well). Plastic surgery is a special type of surgery that
can involve both a person's appearance and ability to function.
Plastic surgeons strive to improve patients' appearance and
self-image through both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures.
- Reconstructive