The American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASPRS) defines a plastic surgeon as one who deals with the repair, reconstruction, or replacement of physical defects of form or function involving the skin, musculoskeletal system, cranio-maxillofacial structures, hand, extremities, breast and trunk, and external genitalia. Aesthetic surgical principles are used not only to improve undesirable qualities of normal structures, but in all reconstructive procedures as well.

Plastic surgeons require special knowledge and skill in the design and surgery of grafts, flaps, free tissue transfer, and reimplantation. Competence in the management of complex wounds, the use of implantable materials, and tumor surgery is required also.

The field of plastic surgery has been instrumental in the development of innovative techniques such as microvascular surgery and cranio-maxillofacial surgery, liposuction, and tissue transfer.