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

According to the sheriff’s office, subpoenaed records indicate the money was used for personal expenses, including shopping, plastic surgery and vacations. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026

Though the yoga teacher initially evaded arrest by fleeing to Costa Rica and undergoing around $6,000 in plastic surgery to alter her appearance, she was captured a month later. —Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026

Here, her thoughts—and deliberate silences—on aging, plastic surgery, and beauty standards. —Alexis Benveniste, Allure, 2 Apr. 2026

Wednesday's news begins with a major Supreme Court debate on birthright citizenship, a space launch toward the moon and a rib-cracking plastic surgery trend. —Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for plastic surgery

• cryosurgery
• microsurgery
• neurosurgery
• psychosurgery
• perjury
• radiosurgery

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).