Israel Medical Association Journal

Plastic and reconstructive surgery is a specialty that has an important place in the surgical field. Plastic surgeons cooperate with all surgical disciplines to solve complex multidisciplinary surgical cases. This issue of the Israel Medical Association Journal (IMAJ) covers some of the groundbreaking treatments being performed by plastic surgeons in Israel.

The articles show the wide and complex range of issues where plastic surgery is needed, including hospital-based breast reconstructions, oncologic resections, and innovative lymphedema surgery, as well as aesthetic procedures. The efforts of plastic surgeons have been especially highlighted due to the Iron Swords war, which started on 7 October 2023. Injuries included complex burns and amputations that required attention under fire. In addition, advances were achieved through cutting‑edge reconstructive microsurgical traumatic solutions. Together, these articles highlight how Israeli teams have leveraged experience in trauma, high‑volume civilian and military caseloads and innovative inspirations that have generated knowledge that may be broadly applicable to surgeons worldwide.

During these challenging times, following the October 7th terrorist attacks and the ongoing Iron Swords war, there is a greater need to strengthen the Israeli Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery. Prof. Josef Haik, chair of the Israeli Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, leads this effort. In addition, it is vital to highlight Israel's contributions to the global Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery community and to encourage collaboration with the nursing division for plastic surgery and burns. Our department is involved in presenting our findings and collaborating with colleagues. In this article, we outlined five main topics: the role of plastic surgery in wartime, reconstructive plastic surgery, aesthetic plastic surgery, microsurgery, and innovation in plastic surgery.

Background: In late 2019, a new strain of coronavirus (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) spread rapidly throughout the world. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported a pandemic-related surge in the demand for aesthetic surgery compared to the same popularity of procedures prior to the pandemic.

Objectives: To determine whether this phenomenon also occurred in Israel.

Methods: We collected data from three leading private medical centers in Tel Aviv. Data were compared for the years 2019 and 2020 by surgical procedure. Number of orthopedic, gynecologic, and hand procedures served as control data.

Results: We present a detailed pandemic-related timeline relevant to aesthetic surgery in Israel. Overall, the demand for aesthetic surgery increased, with a marked trend toward body contouring procedures.

Conclusions: The Israeli aesthetic surgery market was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a post-closure surge. The popularity and number of procedures are unique to the Israeli market.