Washington, D.C. is home to 47 practicing plastic surgeons who have offices in 1 county and 11 zip codes, including zip codes 20007, 20037, 20010, 20036, 20016, 20422, 20307, 20060, 20008, 20006, and 20001.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Washington, D.C. has a population of 550,521, which gives it a specialist to resident ratio of 1 plastic surgeon for every 11,713 residents.

Description

Plastic surgery is surgery to repair or reconstruct physical defects of the skin, head and body. A plastic surgeon performs structural cosmetic surgery for aesthetic reasons to change the shape of features on the head or body, or can perform reconstructive surgery to correct deformities of the head or body caused by injury, disease, or birth defects. This specialist deals with the repair, reconstruction, or replacement of physical defects involving the skin, musculoskeletal system, hand, extremities, breast, trunk and external genitalia. The plastic surgeon uses aesthetic surgical principles not only to improve undesirable qualities of normal structures, but in all reconstructive procedures as well.

Diseases / Illnesses Treated

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are burns, Acne, birth defects, wrinkles, pock, and mucosa defects.

Procedures Performed

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including cosmetic surgery, reconstructive surgery, mastectomy, Suction-Assisted Lipectomy (liposuction), Augmentation Mammaplasty (breast enlargement or boob job), Mesotherapy, Mastopexy (breast lift), Rhytidectomy (face lift), Rhinoplasty (nose job), Vaginoplasty, Chemical peel, Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), Labiaplasty, breast reconstruction, Chin augmentation, Sex reassignment surgery, microsurgery, fat injections, Buttock Augmentation (butt augmentation or butt implants), and Cheek augmentation.

Tests Performed

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including breast exam, skin test, Atropine test, and Fluorescein test.