7/28/2019 Plastic Surgery is a Broad Field

1/2

Plastic surgery is a broad field, and may be subdivided further. Plastic surgery training and approval by

the American Board of Plastic Surgery includes mastery of the following as well:

Burn

Burn surgery generally takes place in two phases. Acute burn surgery is the treatment immediately after

a burn. Reconstructive burn surgery takes place after the burn wounds have healed.

Cosmetic

Aesthetic surgery is an essential component of plastic surgery. Plastic surgeons use cosmetic surgical

principles in all reconstructive surgical procedures as well as isolated operations to improve overall

appearance.[17]

Craniofacial

Craniofacial surgery is divided into pediatric and adult craniofacial surgery. Pediatric craniofacial surgery

mostly revolves around the treatment of congenital anomalies of the craniofacial skeleton and soft

tissues, such as cleft lip and palate, craniosynostosis, and pediatric fractures. Adult craniofacial surgery

deals mostly with fractures and secondary surgeries (such as orbital reconstruction) along with

orthognathic surgery. Craniofacial surgery is an important part of all plastic surgery training programs,

further training and subspecialisation is obtained via a craniofacial fellowship.

Hand

Hand surgery is concerned with acute injuries and chronic diseases of the hand and wrist, correction of

congenital malformations of the upper extremities, and peripheral nerve problems (such as brachial

plexus injuries or carpal tunnel syndrome). Hand surgery is an important part of training in plastic

surgery, as well as microsurgery, which is necessary to replant an amputated extremity. The Hand

surgery field is also practiced by orthopedic surgeons and general surgeons (see Hand surgeon). Scar

tissue formation after surgery can be problematic on the delicate hand, causing loss of dexterity and

7/28/2019 Plastic Surgery is a Broad Field

2/2

digit function if severe enough. Permanently erasing fingerprints can be done using plastic surgeries,

especially criminals would do it on purpose to erase their criminal record. This can be done using a

variety of ways, ranging from simply burning the fingertips using acids, to advanced techniques such as

undergoing a plastic surgery[18].[19][20][21][22]. Some people might be born without any finger- or

toe- prints, this is a rare medical condition termed as adermatoglyphia.

Micro

Microsurgery is generally concerned with the reconstruction of missing tissues by transferring a piece of

tissue to the reconstruction site and reconnecting blood vessels. Popular subspecialty areas are breast

reconstruction, head and neck reconstruction, hand surgery/replantation, and brachial plexus surgery.

Pediatric

Children often face medical issues very different from the experiences of an adult patient. Many birth

defects or syndromes present at birth are best treated in childhood, and pediatric plastic surgeons

specialize in treating these conditions in children. Conditions commonly treated by pediatric plastic

surgeons include craniofacial anomalies, cleft lip and palate and congenital hand deformities.

Reconstructive procedures correct defects on the face or body. These include physical birth defects

like cleft lips and palates and ear deformities, traumatic injuries like those from dog bites or burns, or

the aftermath of disease treatments like rebuilding a woman's breast after surgery for breast cancer.

Cosmetic (also called aesthetic) procedures alter a part of the body that the person is not satisfied

with. Common cosmetic procedures include making the breasts larger (augmentation mammoplasty) or

smaller (reduction mammoplasty), reshaping the nose (rhinoplasty), and removing pockets of fat from

specific spots on the body (liposuction). Some cosmetic procedures aren't even surgical in the way that

most people think of surgery that is, cutting and stitching. For example, the use of special lasers to

remove unwanted hair and sanding skin to improve severe scarring are two such treatments.