What is a Plastic Surgeon?

A plastic surgeon is a physician who specializes in restoring, reconstructing, or altering the human body. The term "plastic" comes from the Greek word plastikos, meaning to mold or shape — it has nothing to do with synthetic materials. After medical school, plastic surgeons complete a residency that typically lasts six years (an integrated pathway) or follow a three-year general surgery residency with a three-year plastic surgery fellowship. Many then pursue additional fellowship training in subspecialties like craniofacial surgery, hand surgery, microsurgery, or burn care.

Plastic surgery is divided into two main categories: reconstructive and cosmetic. Reconstructive surgery addresses functional problems caused by birth defects, trauma, burns, or disease. Cleft lip and palate repair, breast reconstruction after mastectomy, skin grafting for burn patients, and hand surgery to restore function after injury all fall under this category. Cosmetic surgery, by contrast, focuses on appearance — procedures like rhinoplasty, facelifts, breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, and liposuction.

Who performs plastic surgery?

Board certification matters in this field more than most. A surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) has completed an accredited residency in plastic surgery and passed rigorous written and oral exams. However, many cosmetic procedures are legally performed by physicians without formal plastic surgery training, which is why checking board certification is an important step when choosing a surgeon.

Plastic surgeons work in a range of settings — hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, burn units, and private practices. On the reconstructive side, they frequently collaborate with oncologists, orthopedic surgeons, and trauma teams. A plastic surgeon may reattach a severed finger using microsurgery in the morning and perform a cosmetic eyelid lift in the afternoon. That range is part of what defines the specialty.

If you're considering a cosmetic procedure or need reconstructive surgery, you can find a board-certified plastic surgeon near you through our directory.