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

A number of complications can occur as a result of plastic surgery, and CosmetAssure recognizes 15 of them. —Brennan Kilbane, Allure, 16 Oct. 2024

In Hulu’s first Spanish-language series La Máquina, Osuna is helped by his agent Andy (Diego Luna), who has a very serious plastic surgery addiction and spends most of his life maneuvering Osuna’s career to both of their benefits. —Nicole Froio, refinery29.com, 15 Oct. 2024

In conclusion, building a strong brand in plastic surgery requires a thoughtful blend of traditional and digital marketing strategies. —Sacha Obaid, M.d., Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024

Still, this clapback hasn’t stopped fans from making comments about Cardi B’s plastic surgery experiences. —Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 5 Oct. 2024

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).