Applications of plastic surgery in pediatrics have focused primarily on the correction of congenital deformities and repairing damage from traumatic injuries. To make plastic surgery (or any surgery) less risky for infants and young children, researchers have experimented with new techniques of anesthesia. In addition, plastic surgeons have sought to develop better techniques for the treatment and repair of skin damage resulting from burns, and improved techniques for the repair of congenital deformities of the hand and craniofacial reconstruction for repair of cleft lip and palate, one of the most common plastic surgeries for babies, children, and adolescents

A relatively small percentage of plastic surgery procedures are performed on patients under 18 for cosmetic purposes. These procedures include otoplasty (correcting prominent ears) and rhinoplasty (reshaping the nose); and breast augmentation and breast reduction. Data from the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons on cosmetic procedures performed on patients under age 18 are shown in the accompanying table..

Sadove, A.M., and B.L. Eppley. "Pediatric Plastic Surgery. Clinical Plastic Surgery 23, January 1996, pp. 139-55.

Operation Smile International

In 1982, plastic surgeon William Magee and his social worker wife, Kathleen, founded the non-profit organization Operation Smile. As of 1996, the organization's surgeons had performed surgery on 18,000 children in 15 countries. Surgeries performed included cleft lip and palate correction, and burn scar correction.

For Further Study

Books

Hayes, Harry, ed. An Anthology of Plastic Surgery. Rockville, MD: Aspen Publishers, 1986.

Smith, James D., and Robert M. Bumsted, eds. Pediatric Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Arlington Heights, IL: Lippincott-Raven, 1993.

Periodicals

"Local Heroes." Time 147, June 3, 1996, p. 20.

Richard, M.E. "Common Pediatri Craniofacial Reconstructions." Nurse Clinician in North America 29, December 1994, pp. 791-99..

Procedure	Total number	Percentage of patients (all ages)
Breast augmentation	1,172	1 %
Breast reduction in males	1,319	22%
Ear surgery	2,470	34%
Nose reshaping	4,313	9%

Organizations

American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Address: 444 East Algonquin Road
Arlington Hts., IL 60005
Telephone: (847) 228-9900
FAX: (847) 228-9131