Plastic surgery is derived from the word plastic, which in Greek (plastikos) means to shape or to mold. The surgical aspect of molding or shaping the body part to achieve the desired goal is how the term "plastic surgery" is best described.
There are two main areas of plastic surgery: reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries. Reconstructive surgery focuses on the repair and correction of damaged body part/s, whereas cosmetic surgery focuses on the physical improvement or aesthetic purposes.
This type of plastic surgery includes fixing, correcting or reconstructing the defects caused by trauma, surgery or disease. Removal of damaged tissue, skin and tumors are considered under reconstructive surgery.
Cleft lip and palate surgery, breast reconstruction/augmentation and sex re-assignment for transsexuals all fall on reconstructive surgery category.
Aesthetic or Cosmetic Plastic Surgery
As mentioned earlier, cosmetic plastic surgery focuses on the improvement of the appearance by changing or upgrading the unwanted features.
There are some medical exceptions as to why cosmetic surgery is carried out. Breast reduction is one of these exceptions since there are orthopedic issues that need to be addressed through cosmetic plastic surgery.
The ASPS
The American Board of Plastic Surgery approves plastic surgery training. The ASPS also encourages mastery or specialization of plastic surgeons to address the growing popularity of various plastic surgery procedures. The demand for better plastic surgeons is ever growing since it is the lives of patients that are on line when they decide to undergo a procedure.
Whatever procedure it is that a patient needs, it is important to consider the standards that have been laid out by the ASPS. Finding an accredited or certified plastic surgeon is the fist step to achieve a successful plastic surgery procedure.
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