Plastic or cosmetic surgery actually covers a variety of procedures which alter the body’s outward appearance. Procedures are used to shape certain body parts such as the breast or nose, soften skin tone to reduce or eliminate wrinkles, and to correct problems resulting from accident or disease.

The term plastic surgery comes from the Greek word “plastikos,” which means “to mold”. Plastic surgery procedures were first performed in 100 BC, usually to restore normal form to body parts that had been altered due to injury or war. Plastic surgical procedures can be divided into two major categories: cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery.

Reconstructive surgery involves the restoration of function or form to body parts that have been damaged as a result of injury, disease, or congenital defects. Reconstructive plastic surgery requires both technical and artistic skill.