The report indicates that these procedures have consistently remained the most common reconstructive procedures performed since 1992. Overall, almost 1.25 million reconstructive procedures were performed in 1999.
Reconstructive surgery is the correction of abnormal structures of the body.
Birth defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma or injury, infection, tumors or disease may be the cause of these abnormalities. The surgery is generally performed to improve function, but may also be done to approximate a more normal appearance. The ASPS National Clearing House of Plastic Surgery Statistics is the only source that can show reconstructive trends for nearly a decade. Breast reconstruction, with 82,975 procedures, is the third most frequently performed reconstructive procedures. Since 1992 reconstructive procedures have increased 10 percent.