plastic surgery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Medical, Semi-formal (everyday when discussing appearance)
Quick answer
What does “plastic surgery” mean?
A branch of surgery dealing with the repair, reconstruction, or alteration of the human body, especially for medical or cosmetic purposes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A branch of surgery dealing with the repair, reconstruction, or alteration of the human body, especially for medical or cosmetic purposes.
The professional field and practice of reconstructive or aesthetic surgical procedures to restore function or improve appearance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use 'plastic surgery'. However, the informal abbreviation 'plastics' for the field is more common in US medical contexts.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both dialects. Can carry neutral (medical), positive (life-changing), or negative (superficial/vain) connotations depending on context.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects. The phrase is standard.
Grammar
How to Use “plastic surgery” in a Sentence
undergo plastic surgery (for + noun)have plastic surgery (on + body part)perform plastic surgery (on + patient)specialise in plastic surgeryVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “plastic surgery” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The surgeon will operate to reconstruct the eyelid.
- She decided to have her nose reshaped.
American English
- The doctor performed surgery to repair the burn injuries.
- He got a nose job last year.
adverb
British English
- The procedure was performed plastic-surgically to minimise scarring.
- (Rare usage; 'surgically' is standard)
American English
- The reconstruction was done with plastic-surgical precision.
- (Rare usage; 'surgically' is standard)
adjective
British English
- She is a leading plastic surgery consultant.
- He needed plastic surgery intervention after the accident.
American English
- She sought a plastic surgery opinion.
- It was a complex plastic surgery case.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the cosmetic surgery industry, market trends, and clinic management.
Academic
Discussed in medical journals, ethics papers, and sociological studies on body image.
Everyday
Common in conversations about personal appearance, celebrity culture, or medical recovery.
Technical
Precise terminology for specific procedures (e.g., rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty) within the surgical field.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “plastic surgery”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “plastic surgery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “plastic surgery”
- Using 'plastic surgery' only for cosmetic purposes (it includes reconstructive).
- Incorrect: 'a plastic surgery' (usually uncountable). Correct: 'a plastic surgery procedure' or 'plastic surgery'.
- Confusing 'plastic surgeon' with 'cosmetic surgeon' (all plastic surgeons are trained in cosmetic procedures, but not all cosmetic surgeons are certified plastic surgeons).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not exactly. Plastic surgery is the broad specialty dedicated to reconstruction of facial and body defects. Cosmetic surgery is a subset focused on enhancing appearance. All cosmetic surgery is plastic surgery, but not all plastic surgery is cosmetic.
It comes from the Greek word 'plastikos', meaning 'to mold' or 'to give form'. It refers to the surgeon's work in molding and shaping tissue, not to the synthetic material.
Typically, no. 'Plastic surgery' is generally used as an uncountable noun. You 'have plastic surgery' or 'undergo plastic surgery'. To specify a single instance, say 'a plastic surgery procedure' or 'an operation'.
A 'plastic surgeon' has completed a recognised, extensive residency training program in plastic surgery. A 'cosmetic surgeon' is a broader term that can be used by doctors from various backgrounds (e.g., dermatology, dentistry) who perform cosmetic procedures. Certification and training rigor differ significantly.
A branch of surgery dealing with the repair, reconstruction, or alteration of the human body, especially for medical or cosmetic purposes.
Plastic surgery is usually formal, medical, semi-formal (everyday when discussing appearance) in register.
Plastic surgery: in British English it is pronounced /ˌplæs.tɪk ˈsɜː.dʒər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌplæs.tɪk ˈsɝː.dʒɚ.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A nip and tuck (informal for minor cosmetic surgery)”
- “Go under the knife”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PLASTIC surgeon as an artist who MOLDS and SHAPES (like plastic) the body, not someone who uses fake materials.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS CLAY/SCULPTURE (to be molded and reshaped).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically a primary goal of plastic surgery?