Plastic surgery is a term that can mean a few types of surgery. It seems to be most associated with cosmetic surgery, which is an altering or improving surgery that has an aesthetic value for the client. It can also mean reconstructive surgery, which is as it sounds, surgery that is to rebuild or reshape a part of the body that may have been disfigured by an accident or condition.
There are a number of centres which offer extensive plastic and reconstructive surgery covering a wide range of treatments. Reconstructive surgery covers a much bigger range of conditions, whereas plastic surgery (as in cosmetic surgery) tends to be more aesthetic. Aesthetic (cosmetic) surgery is usually only available privately, the NHS will only provide it under strict conditions. It always worth checking with the NHS whether you qualify for free treatment for your cosmetic surgery, as it tends to depend on how you are affected in your personal state.
Plastic surgery has long been used to aid people who have had problems with their bodies, for whatever reason. They can have corrective surgery on cleft lips and palates, which is something that can dramatically affect speech. Reconstructive surgery is also used for cancer sufferers who may have had part of their bodies removed, mostly noticeable for women who have had to have a breast removed.
Reconstructive surgery is for conditions which a person cannot usually control and that affect their lives in a negative way, or make them an object of notice to other people. Reconstructive surgery is used to treat burns, accident victims and other conditions which are out of the control of the individual. Many hospitals can offer these treatments, however, not all specialise and there are certain hospitals which do not offer any treatments at all. This is dependent on the type of hospital and many that do offer treatments specialise in a particular area of corrective surgery and leave other areas to other hospitals.