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).

Example Sentences

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Now her newly public company, Perfect Corp., is chasing opportunities in jewelry, apparel and even plastic surgery and dentistry. —Laura Smythe, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2023

The 2023 Oscars goodies range from plastic surgery to a bottle of coconut water, and all will be delivered to the homes of A-listers such as Austin Butler, Cate Blanchett, Michelle Yeoh and Steven Spielberg this week. —Isabel Lord, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023

After decades of turning to diet pills, steroids and plastic surgery to alter their bodies inside and out, people are increasingly open to an alternative method: injecting themselves with peptides at home. —Sara Ashley O'brien, WSJ, 2 Mar. 2023

Simpson is no stranger to opening up about cosmetic and plastic surgery she's had done. —Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023

Christina Applegate put a hateful commenter on blast over a claim that plastic surgery changed her appearance and not her multiple sclerosis. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 18 Jan. 2023

What were your feelings about plastic surgery at the time? —Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2022

Dos Santos Lima revealed that she was inspired by supermodel Linda Evangelista, who candidly shared her experience with CoolSculpting earlier this year, to go public about her plastic surgery. —Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE.com, 18 July 2022

Tittle, 65, said he’s been doing plastic surgery since before Botox or fillers were invented in the early 2000s. —Natalie Walters, Dallas News, 23 Aug. 2020

See More

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).