Plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery: Current trends and recent innovations

Abstract

The principles and surgical techniques on which plastic surgery is based have evolved over hundreds of years. However, modern day plastic and reconstructive surgery emerged as a specialty during the two World Wars. As a surgical specialty, it is seldom limited by anatomy or disease and so it remains one of the few interface specialties where surgeons work closely with colleagues across a wide range of fields. Plastic surgery continues to benefit from technical advancement. However, biomedical research is likely to yield the next breakthroughs in the treatment of plastic surgery patients. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010.