plastic surgery

noun

: a branch of surgery concerned with improving the function or appearance of parts of the body through reconstructive or cosmetic medical procedures

also : a procedure performed for such a purpose

Note: Reconstructive plastic surgery deals mainly with the surgical repair or restoration of an injured, lost, diseased, defective, or misshapen part or area. It typically involves the grafting of tissue (such as skin or cartilage) from one part of the body to another. Cosmetic or aesthetic plastic surgery focuses on enhancing appearance and includes surgical procedures (such as blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and breast augmentation) as well as nonsurgical procedures (such as chemical peels and botulinum toxin injections).

Examples of plastic surgery in a Sentence

He needed plastic surgery on his face after the car accident.

Recent Examples on the Web

And, two other doctors claimed by the West Miami-Dade plastic surgery business have been fined by the state after deaths of Brazilian butt lift patients in 2020 and 2022. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025

The intrigue: After a flush of celebrity endorsements early on, the drugs were popularly seen as a luxury cosmetic intervention — along the same line as plastic surgery, which is famously commonplace in Utah. —Erin Alberty, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025

More:We’re in the ‘undetectable era’ of plastic surgery. —Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2025

The Bring It On star, who has become known for her youthful appearance, recently denied plastic surgery rumors. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1837, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

plastic surgery

noun

: surgery concerned with the repair or improvement of lost, injured, defective, or misshapen parts of the body

Medical Definition

plastic surgery

noun

: a branch of surgery concerned with improving the function or appearance of parts of the body through reconstructive or cosmetic medical procedures

also : a procedure performed for such a purpose

Note: Reconstructive plastic surgery deals mainly with the surgical repair or restoration of an injured, lost, diseased, defective, or misshapen part or area. It typically involves the grafting of tissue (such as skin or cartilage) from one part of the body to another. Cosmetic or aesthetic plastic surgery focuses on enhancing appearance and includes surgical procedures (such as blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and breast augmentation) as well as nonsurgical procedures (such as chemical peels and botulinum toxin injections).