Suffix · forms nouns
From Greek "plastos" (moulded): names reconstructive or cosmetic surgeries. Rhinoplasty, angioplasty.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
The suffix -plasty comes from Greek "plastos" (moulded, formed) and names reconstructive, reparative or cosmetic surgeries that reshape or rebuild a part of the body. From "rhino-" (nose) comes "rhinoplasty"; from "angio-" (blood vessel) comes "angioplasty". The Spanish equivalent is -plastia: rhinoplasty → rinoplastia, angioplasty → angioplastia.
rhinoplasty = nose job / nose reshaping angioplasty = repair/widening of coronary arteries mammoplasty = breast augmentation or reduction surgery blepharoplasty = eyelid surgery abdominoplasty = tummy tuck otoplasty = ear surgery arthroplasty = joint replacement (knee, hip) genioplasty = chin surgery urethroplasty = urethral repair corneoplasty = corneal reshaping
The fundamental difference between these two surgical suffixes: -ectomy = excise (remove completely): mastectomy = breast tissue is removed. -plasty = reshape/reconstruct (the part stays, it is remodelled): rhinoplasty = nose is reshaped, not removed. Some procedures combine both: mastectomy (tissue removed) followed by breast reconstruction using -plasty techniques. Note: "plastic" in "plastic surgery" comes from the same Greek "plastos" (mouldable) — nothing to do with plastic material.
Body part name (in Greek form) + plasty.
Word family: -plasty (surgery), -plastic (adjective: plastic surgery), -plast (cell or material that shapes: chloroplast). "Plastic" in "plastic surgery" comes from the same Greek "plastos" — not from plastic material.
-plasty/plæsti/ · sounds like 'PLASS-tee'
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
rhinoplasty = nose is reshaped (still there). rhinectomy = nose is removed (gone). If the part remains, it is -plasty; if removed, it is -ectomy.
"Plastic surgery" has nothing to do with plastic material. "Plastic" comes from Greek "plastos" = mouldable, formable. Surgery that shapes the body.
In English the ending is -plasty (no -ia). Spanish adds -ia: rhinoplasty → rinoplastia.
A trick to remember it
-plasty = surgery that shapes or reconstructs (does not remove). The prefix names the area: rhino- (nose), blepharo- (eyelid), angio- (vessel), arthro- (joint). "Plastic surgery" comes from the same Greek "plastos" (mouldable), not from plastic material.
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"Angioplasty" is a surgery to...
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
Why is it called "plastic surgery" if no plastic is used?
The suffix -plasty from Greek "plastos" (moulded): names reconstructive or cosmetic surgeries. Rhinoplasty, angioplasty. In Spanish it usually maps to -plastia.
The ending -plasty is pronounced /plæsti/ · sounds like 'PLASS-tee'. For example, "rhinoplasty".
"rhino (nose)" becomes "rhinoplasty". It is a typical example of the -plasty suffix.
From Greek "ektome" (excision): names surgeries that remove an organ or tissue. Appendectomy, mastectomy.
Names a science or field of study: bio + ology = biology.
From Greek "therapeia" (healing, treatment): names medical or therapeutic methods. Chemotherapy, physiotherapy.
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.