Origin and Definition
Webster's Dictionary defines              plastic surgery as: surgery              concerned with the repair,              restoration, or improvement of              lost, injured, defective, or              misshapen body parts. Some              people are put off by the use of              the word ?plastic?, as it is              sometimes considered to be              synonymous with ?fake? or              ?superficial?, while others              object because they believe that              it implies the implantation or              grafting of actual plastic parts              into or onto human beings.
While it could be said that              there is some truth in these              interpretations, the word              ?plastic? in this context has              more to do with the origin of              the word, which is from the              Greek 
plastikos, meaning              "able to be molded?.
According the The American              Board of Plastic Surgery's              website:
              ? Plastic surgery deals with               the repair, reconstruction,               or replacement of physical               defects of form or function               involving the skin,               musculoskeletal system,               craniomaxillofacial               structures, hand,               extremities, breast and               trunk, external genitalia or               cosmetic enhancement of               these areas of the body? The               plastic surgeon uses               cosmetic surgical principles               both to improve overall               appearance and to optimize               the outcome of               reconstructive procedures.               Special knowledge and skill               in the design and surgery of               grafts, flaps, free tissue               transfer and replantation is               necessary? Anatomy,               physiology, pathology, and               other basic sciences are               fundamental to the               specialty? Competency in               plastic surgery implies an               amalgam of basic medical and               surgical knowledge,               operative judgment,               technical expertise, ethical               behavior, and interpersonal               skills to achieve problem               resolution and patient               satisfaction.?
Cosmetic vs. Reconstructive
There are two main types of              plastic surgery: cosmetic              plastic surgery and              reconstructive plastic surgery.              Cosmetic surgery seeks to              improve the patient's features              on a purely aesthetic level, in              the absence of any actual              deformity or trauma. On the              other hand, the purpose of              reconstructive surgery is to              correct any physical feature              which is grossly deformed or              abnormal by accepted              standards---either as the result              of a birth defect, congenital              disorder, illness, or trauma.              Often, reconstructive surgery              addresses not only a deformed              appearance, but also seeks to              correct or improve some              deficiency or abnormality in the             
function of the              body part in question.
Public Opinion: For or              Against
Up until fairly recently,              plastic surgery was largely              viewed as an eccentric luxury.              It carried a stigma to an extent              that people often went to great              lengths to conceal their              surgical self-improvement              efforts. Today, however, it is              not uncommon to overhear an              excited post-op patient telling              anyone who will listen all about              her brand new breasts.
There are many people on both              sides of the plastic surgery              debate---loyal devotees and              staunch opponents. Proponents              point out that we all spend time              improving ourselves in so many              ways, so what, they ask, makes              plastic surgery any different?              After all, though ?natural              beauty? is revered and admired              in our culture, it is not really              something that one ?achieves?,              nor is it something that he or              she can even take the credit              for.
Detractors, on the other              hand, believe it is much nobler              to expend our efforts (and spend              our cash) improving our minds              rather than our bodies. And of              course, there is always the              argument that ?that's how God              meant you to be?.
Most likely, the answer lies              somewhere in the middle. Like              everything, there is a wrong and              a right time, and there are              wrong and right reasons to get              plastic surgery.
Is Plastic Surgery Right for              You?
Will plastic surgery make you              feel less self-conscious in a              bikini? Quite possibly. Is it              for everybody? Absolutely not.              Are there some people whose              lives are significantly improved              by it? Absolutely. Are there              some people who go too far,              losing their identities or even              lose their lives in their              pursuit of perfection?              Unfortunately, yes.
In the end, only you can              decide if plastic surgery is              right for you. Hopefully, this              site can provide you with the              information you need to make the              best decision for your unique              circumstances.