How Does Plastic Surgery Work?

Plastic surgery is used to repair and reconstruct missing or damaged tissue and skin.

The main aim of plastic surgery is to restore the function and appearance of tissue and skin so it's as close to normal as possible.

Plastic surgery is different from cosmetic surgery, which is surgery carried out solely to change a person's appearance to achieve what they feel is a more desirable look.

Read more about cosmetic procedures.

When plastic surgery is used

Plastic surgery can be used to repair:

• abnormalities that have existed from birth, such as a cleft lip and palate, webbed fingers, and birthmarks
• areas damaged by the removal of cancerous tissue, such as from the face or breast
• extensive burns or other serious injuries

Plastic surgery can often help improve a person's self-esteem, confidence and overall quality of life.

Availability of plastic surgery

Reconstructive plastic surgery is usually carried out free of charge by the NHS. But availability varies around the country and is determined by local integrated care boards (ICBs).

Plastic surgeons have extensive training and belong to professional associations, such as the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS).

Check whether a particular surgeon belongs to BAPRAS

Most people are referred to NHS plastic surgeons by their GP or a specialist consultant they see about their condition.

Plastic surgery is also available privately, but it can be very expensive.

It's still a good idea to speak to your GP or specialist first if you're considering private treatment, even if a referral isn't required.

Plastic surgery techniques

Some of the techniques used during plastic surgery are:

• skin grafts – where healthy skin from an unaffected area of the body is removed and used to replace lost or damaged skin
• skin flap surgery – where a piece of tissue from one part of the body is transferred to another, along with the blood vessels that keep it alive; it's called flap surgery because the healthy tissue usually remains partially attached to the body while it's repositioned
• tissue expansion – where surrounding tissue is stretched to enable the body to "grow" extra skin, which can then be used to help reconstruct the nearby area

As well as these techniques, plastic surgeons also use many other methods, such as:

• fat transfer or grafting – where fat is removed from one area and inserted in another area, usually to correct unevenness
• vacuum closure – where suction is applied to a wound through a sterile piece of foam or gauze to draw out fluid and encourage healing
• camouflage make-up or cream
• prosthetic devices, such as artificial limbs

Read more about how plastic surgery is performed.

Risks of plastic surgery

As with any type of surgery, plastic surgery has associated risks.

The degree of risk depends on the size of the affected area, the surgeon's level of experience, and the overall health of the person having the procedure.

Some procedures carry specific risks, but general risks include:

• pain and discomfort
• bleeding
• infection
• scarring

Contact your surgeon, healthcare team or GP immediately if you have any concerns after surgery, such as unexpected pain, swelling, discharge, or other side effects.

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Page last reviewed: 03 August 2021
Next review due: 03 August 2024

What is plastic surgery?

It is a common misunderstanding that the word plastic in plastic surgery means artificial. Rather, the word originated from the ancient Greek word plastikos, which means to mold or give form. Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty involved with both the improvement in a person's appearance and the reconstruction of facial and body tissue defects due to illness, trauma, or birth disorders.

Plastic surgery restores and improves function, as well as appearance. It can involve surgery on any part of the anatomy, except the central nervous system, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Skin (including skin cancer, scars, burns, birthmarks, and tattoo removal)
• Maxillofacial (the facial skeleton)
• Congenital anomalies (including deformed ears, cleft palate, and cleft lip)

Doctors who perform plastic surgery

It is important to select a doctor who is certified in plastic surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Generally, a surgeon who is board-certified in plastic surgery has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least 5 years of graduate medical education--usually 3 years of general surgery and 2 years of plastic surgery. In addition, the surgeon must practice plastic surgery for 2 years and pass comprehensive written and oral exams to become board-certified. Board certification is renewed every 10 years to ensure ongoing competency in the specialty.

What does plastic surgery include?

Plastic surgery includes both reconstructive and aesthetic (cosmetic) procedures:

Reconstructive plastic surgery

In general, reconstructive surgery is done on abnormal structures of the body that may be caused by the following:

• Trauma
• Infection
• Developmental abnormalities
• Congenital (present at birth) anomalies
• Disease
• Tumors

This type of surgery is usually done to improve function, but may also be done to change appearance.

Cosmetic (aesthetic) plastic surgery

Cosmetic surgery is done to repair or reshape otherwise normal structures of the body, generally, to improve appearance.