Plastic surgery (plastic and reconstructive surgery) refers to any type of surgery performed to reconstruct or change the appearance of a body part or characteristic.

There is a common misconception in plastic surgery that the word plastic means artificial. Rather, the word comes from the ancient Greek word plasticos, meaning to mold or form. Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty involved in both the improvement of the person's appearance and the reconstruction of facial and body tissue defects caused by disease, trauma or birth defects.

Plastic surgery can be broadly classified as reconstructive or cosmetic (aesthetic) surgery, depending primarily on whether it is performed to restore function or alter physical appearance.