Plastic surgery has come a very long way in the past 15 years. Last year, the Huffington Post UK published an article on modern day plastic surgery miracles. Describing just a handful of the most phenomenal reconstruction stories from recent times, the article demonstrates the function of plastic surgery beyond cosmetic enhancement.

Designed to restore the function and form of skin and tissue, these stories showcase how plastic surgery can change lives following a debilitating illness, injury or birth defect:

(Click on the headline for each case to read more)

1. Malala Yousafzai – Skull reconstruction for Pakistani school girl shot by Taliban

malala