Plastic and reconstructive surgery is a broad field divided into two primary categories: Reconstructive, which focuses on restoring function and a normal appearance to parts of the body damaged by injury or disease, and Cosmetic, which focuses on enhancing the appearance of normal body parts.

Below is a comprehensive list of common procedures categorized by their primary goal.

1. Reconstructive Surgeries (Restorative)

These are typically considered medically necessary and are often covered by insurance.

Breast & Body Reconstruction

• Breast Reconstruction: Building a breast mound after a mastectomy or lumpectomy (using implants or the patient’s own “flap” tissue).

• Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammoplasty): Performed to alleviate chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain caused by excessively large breasts.

• Panniculectomy: Removal of a large “apron” of excess skin and fat (pannus) after massive weight loss to prevent hygiene issues or infections.

• Lymphedema Surgery: Procedures like Lymphaticovenous Anastomosis (LVA) to restore lymphatic drainage.

Face & Craniofacial

• Cleft Lip and Palate Repair: Correcting birth defects to restore normal eating and speech function.

• Septoplasty: Straightening a deviated septum to improve breathing.

• Maxillofacial Surgery: Repairing facial fractures (jaw, nose, or eye socket) after trauma.

• Craniosynostosis Surgery: Reshaping the skull of an infant where the bones have fused too early.

Trauma, Skin & Extremities

• Burn Reconstruction: Skin grafting and tissue expansion to restore mobility and reduce scarring after severe burns.

• Hand & Foot Surgery: Repairing tendons, nerves, or congenital deformities (like webbed fingers) to restore function.

• Skin Cancer Reconstruction: Repairing the face or body after the removal of tumors or Mohs surgery.

• Scar Revision: Minimizing the appearance of scars that restrict movement or cause significant distress.

2. Cosmetic Surgeries (Elective)

These are performed to improve aesthetic appeal and are generally self-funded.

Facial Enhancement

• Rhinoplasty (Nose Job): Reshaping the nose for better facial balance.

• Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery): Removing excess skin or fat from the eyelids.

• Rhytidectomy (Facelift): Tightening facial muscles and removing sagging skin.

• Otoplasty: Ear pinning or reshaping.

Body Contouring

• Liposuction: Removing localized fat deposits from the stomach, thighs, or arms.

• Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck): Tightening abdominal muscles and removing loose skin.

• Breast Augmentation: Increasing breast size using silicone or saline implants.

• Mastopexy (Breast Lift): Raising and firming the breasts by removing excess skin.

• Brachioplasty (Arm Lift): Removing “bat wing” skin from the upper arms.

Key Surgical Techniques

Regardless of the procedure, surgeons use several foundational techniques:

• Skin Grafting: Taking healthy skin from one area to cover another.

• Flap Surgery: Moving a piece of tissue (including its own blood supply) from one part of the body to another.

• Tissue Expansion: Using a balloon-like expander to stretch the skin, allowing the body to “grow” extra skin for reconstruction.

• Microsurgery: Using a microscope to reattach tiny blood vessels and nerves.

Note: The line between “cosmetic” and “reconstructive” often blurs. For example, a Rhinoplasty can be cosmetic (to change shape) or reconstructive (to fix a broken nose from an accident).