Why is it called plastic surgery

Plastic surgery can involve a number of different techniques to move and manipulate body tissue.

Before having plastic surgery, you should have a consultation with a plastic surgeon.

They'll explain in detail what will happen before, during and after surgery.

You may also be given a psychological assessment.

Skin grafts used to be the main type of plastic surgery, but newer techniques, such as tissue expansion and flap surgery, are now often used.

Skin grafts

A skin graft is where healthy skin is removed from an unaffected area of the body and used to cover lost or damaged skin.

They can be used for bone fractures that break the skin (open fractures), large wounds, or where an area of the skin is surgically removed – for example, due to cancer or burns.

There are 2 main types of skin graft.

Partial or split thickness skin graft

This is where a thin layer of skin (as thin as tissue paper) is shaved from an area that usually heals well, such as the thigh, buttocks or calf.

The donor area may look pink or lighter tha

how is reconstructive surgery done

how is plastic surgery performed