Reconstructive surgery can give these individuals a more normal appearance and function, which in turn can improve their self-esteem and quality of life. Other plastic surgeons give people a chance for a new life by removing tattoos that are negative reminders of their past. Using a laser, plastic surgeons can remove tattoos from former gang members, concentration camp survivors and people who just don't want their tattoos anymore. Gary Rosenberg, MD, a Delray Beach, Fla., plastic surgeon, helped start a volunteer tattoo removal program in Palm Beach County for former gang members. We're helping kids who might be in trouble for the rest of their lives and giving them a chance to lead new, productive lives.
Plastic surgeons treat many injuries, including burns, sun damage to the skin and animal bites.
In 1999, the society launched a dog bite prevention campaign with the Independent Insurance Agents of America aimed at reducing the high number of injuries from dog attacks. It sent a news feature about dog bite prevention to the media and since most dog bite victims are children, distributed a bookmark with safety tips to selected schools around the country. We perform thousands of reconstructive procedures for dog bite injuries every year. A lot of patients have thanked us for providing this information.