What is the term for a surgical procedure that alters the shape or size of a body part?

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The term "plasty" refers specifically to a surgical procedure aimed at modifying, reshaping, or reconstructing a body part. This term is derived from the Greek word "plastos," meaning molded or formed. Surgical procedures that use this suffix often involve enhancement, repair, or remodeling of tissues, as seen in terms like "rhinoplasty" (surgery on the nose) or "angioplasty" (repair of blood vessels).

In contrast, other terms listed refer to different surgical concepts. "Ostomy" refers to a procedure that creates an opening (stoma) from an area inside the body to the outside, such as in colostomy. "Otomy" indicates a surgical incision into an organ or a body part, such as in "laparotomy," which is an incision into the abdominal cavity. "Abrasion" denotes a scraping away of a surface, which is not specifically a surgical procedure aimed at altering shape or size.

Thus, "plasty" is the appropriate term that encapsulates the meaning of a surgical intervention centered on altering the shape or size of a body part.

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