They apply to patients who have had tissue damage as a result of an injury, disease process or they are the result of a congenital defect. Pathologies may concern any anatomical region of the human body. Injuries may be the result of chemical, mechanical or thermal factors, or the result of deliberate actions, e.g. surgical interventions.

Reconstruction procedures most often concern exposed areas, exposed to the public view (face, neck, forearms, lower legs), but often they are not only a cosmetic defect, but also cause functional disorders that significantly hinder normal functioning. Surgical reconstructions cover a whole group of procedures discussed in detail in the surgery section.