(I) To many, plastic surgery is synonymous with
aesthetic surgery, but it encompasses reconstructive
surgery as well. (II) Plastic surgery has its roots in the
World Wars, when battlefield surgeons developed
techniques to reconstruct wounded soldiers’ injured
limbs. (III) Reconstructive surgery is exactly what it
sounds like – surgery to reconstruct part of the body
after a traumatic injury or correct a deformity. (IV) On the
other hand, aesthetic surgery is performed to improve
normal appearance. (V) Of course, many plastic surgery
procedures actually include aspects of both
reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.