- Plastic surgery
- : The field of surgery concerned with reducing scarring or disfigurement that may occur as a result of accidents, birth defects, or treatment for diseases, such as melanoma. Many plastic surgeons also perform cosmetic surgery that is unrelated to medical conditions, such as rhinoplasty to change the shape of the nose. Plastic surgery was developed as a field of medicine by Harold Delf Gillies (1882-1960). In 1918 he became the first physician to specialize in plastic surgery. Born in New Zealand, Gillies studied and stayed in England. At the beginning of World War II he was one of only 4 qualified plastic surgeons in England. Dr. Gillies once confessed, "Often while lifting a face I have a feeling of guilt that I am merely making money," adding, "Yet, is it not justified if it brings even a little extra happiness to a soul who needs it?"
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plastic surgery n a branch of surgery concerned with the repair, restoration, or improvement of lost, injured, defective, or misshapen parts of the body chiefly by transfer of tissue also an operation performed for such a purpose* * *
a branch of surgery dealing with the reconstruction of deformed or damaged parts of the body. It also includes the replacement of parts of the body that have been lost. If performed simply to improve appearances plastic surgery is called cosmetic surgery (or aesthetic plastic surgery), but most plastic surgery involves the treatment and repair of disfigurement and disability caused by burns, major accidents, and cancer and the correction of congenital defects, such as cleft lip and cleft palate.* * *
surgery concerned with the restoration, reconstruction, correction, or improvement in the shape and appearance of body structures that are defective, damaged, or misshapen by injury, disease, or growth and development.
Medical dictionary. 2011.