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Home » Specialist & Primary Care » Specialist Care » Plastic/Reconstructive

Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is the specialty of medicine dedicated to restoring and reshaping the human body. It is taken from the Greek word "plastikos", which means to mold or give form. Plastic surgery encompasses both Reconstructive Surgery and Cosmetic Surgery.

Reconstructive Surgery

The goal of Reconstructive Surgery is different than that of Cosmetic Surgery. Reconstructive Surgery is performed on abnormal structures of the body, caused by birth defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma or injury, infection, tumors or disease. There are two basic categories of patients: those who have congenital deformities and those with developmental deformities.

Congenital Deformities: Common examples
  1. Birthmarks
  2. Cleft lip and palate deformities
  3. Syndactyly (webbed fingers) or extra/absent fingers
  4. Abnormal breast development
  5. Skull and facial deformities
  6. Prominent and deformed ears
Developmental or Acquired Deformities: Common examples
  1. Scars
  2. Wounds
  3. Burns
  4. Growths and tissue defects including cancer treatment and mastectomy
  5. Lacerations
  6. Severed limbs, fingers or toes
  7. Skull and jaw injuries
  8. Hand injuries
Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic Surgery is performed to reshape or restore normal structures of the body to improve appearance and self-esteem. Cosmetic Surgery is usually not covered by health insurance because it is elective and not considered a medical necessity. Some types of cosmetic concerns are:
  1. Excess body fat
  2. Disproportionate or sagging breasts
  3. Skin problems: wrinkling, uneven pigmentation, sun-damage, unwanted tattoos.
  4. Sagging facial skin, muscles, loose neck skin
  5. Hair loss
  6. Facial features to improve appearance of nose, cheekbones, chin shapes
Remember that every case is unique and any questions that you have can best be answered by consulting with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon.

To access a XiMED Plastic/Reconstructive surgeon that is right for you go to the physician finder or click here.

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