Overview
Among the techniques now used by plastic surgeons:
Grafting - the transfer of skin, bone, nerves, or other tissue from a healthy part of the body to repair the injured part;
Flap surgery - moving the skin along with its underlying fat, blood vessels, and muscle from a healthy part of the body to the injured site;
Replantation or transplantation - restoring accidentally amputated fingers or hands using microsurgery, an extremely precise and delicate surgery performed under magnification. Some injuries may require several operations over an extended period of time.
In many cases, surgery can restore a significant degree of feeling and function to injured hands. However, recovery may take months, and a period of hand therapy will most often be needed (see Recovery and rehabilitation below.)
