Plastic surgery involves the restoration, reconstruction, or alteration of the human body. It subdivides into two main categories. The first is reconstructive surgery, which aims to reconstruct a part of the body or improve its functioning. The second is cosmetic or aesthetic surgery, which aims to improve the appearance of body.

Reconstructive surgery is performed to treat structures of the body affected aesthetically or functionally by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, burns, trauma, infection, tumors or disease. It is generally done to improve function and ability, but may also be performed to achieve a more typical appearance of the affected structure. Reconstructive surgery is generally covered by most health insurance policies, although coverage for specific procedures and levels of coverage may vary greatly. The field contains procedures as: cleft lip and palate repair, breast reduction or reconstruction, giant nevi removal, panniculectomy (hanging skin and fat removing from the lower abdomen), scar revision (scar size minimizing), septoplasty, tissue expansion (most commonly used for breast reconstruction following breast removal) and other.

Cosmetic plastic surgery includes surgical and nonsurgical procedures that enhance and reshape structures of the body to improve appearance and confidence. Healthy individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations are appropriate candidates for cosmetic procedures. Cosmetic surgery is a personal choice and should be done for yourself, not to meet someone else’s expectations or to try to fit an ideal image. Because it is elective, cosmetic surgery is usually not covered by health insurance. The field contains procedures as: breast augmentation, lift or reduction, liposuction, body lift, buccal fat removing, brow lift, rhinoplasty, facelift, facial implants, cheek augmentation, botulinum toxin, chemical peel, dermal fillers, laser skin resurfacing, laser hair removal, spider vein treatment, gynecomastia surgery, hair transplant, vaginal rejuvenation (vulvovaginal plastic surgery) and other.