Plastic era.
March 23rd, 2008
Plastic and reconstructive 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 of the concern than changing the functionality, plastic surgery is also sometimes referred to as “cosmetic surgery”. Some procedures involve both aesthetic and functional elements, but so-called anti-aging surgery rarely has a functional element.
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 surgeous typically mold and reshape the following tissues of the body: bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, and skin.
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 the United States and Australia, many doctors who are not qualified as surgeons also perform cosmetic procedures.