Techniques and procedures

Common techniques used in plastic surgery are:

* incision
* excision
* microsurgery
* chemosurgery
* electrosurgery
* laser surgery
* dermabrasion
* liposuction

In plastic surgery the transfer of skin tissue (skin grafting) is one of the most common procedures. (In traditional surgery a “graft” is a piece of living tissue, organ, etc., that is transplanted.

* Autografts: Skin grafts taken from the recipient. If absent or deficient of natural tissue, alternatives can be:
o Cultured Sheets of epithelial cells in vitro.
o Synthetic compounds (e.g., Integra--a 2 layered dermal substitute consisting superficially of silicone and deeply of bovine tendon collagen with glycosaminoglycans).
* Allografts: Skin grafts taken from a donor of the same species.
* Xenografts: Skin grafts taken from a donor of a different species.

Usually, good results are expected from plastic surgery that emphasizes:

* Careful planning of incisions so that they fall in the line of natural skin folds or lines.
* Appropriate choice of wound closure.
* Use of best available suture materials.
* Early removal of exposed sutures so that the wound is held closed by buried sutures.