Plastic surgery is a term used for special type of surgery that can involve both a person's appearance and the ability to function. There are two types of procedures adopted by Plastic surgeons who strive to improve patients' appearance and self-image through both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures.

Reconstructive procedures are performed to correct defect on the face or body. These include physical birth defects like cleft lips and palates and ear deformities, traumatic injuries like those from dog bites or burns, or the aftermath disease treatment such as breast cancer where rebuilding a woman's breast is required.

Cosmetic procedures also called as aesthetic procedures alter a part of the body that the person is not satisfied with or not comfortable with. Common cosmetic procedures include making the breasts larger (augmentation mammoplasty) or smaller (reduction mammoplasty), reshaping the nose (rhinoplasty), and removing fat pockets from specific body spots (liposuction). Some cosmetic procedures aren't even surgical in the way that most people think of surgery — that is, cutting and stitching. For example, the use of special lasers to remove unwanted hair and sanding skin to improve severe scarring are two such treatments. According to Maryland Plastic Surgeon, getting plastic surgery done from certified board member is very important.

Several factors are important in deciding when and for whom surgery is appropriate: an ability to understand the procedure; that the desire for surgery does not reflect what a parent, friend, or boyfriend desires; and that expectations are realistic.