The term aesthetic surgery is used more and more for marketing and mercantile purposes. Our German Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery addresses the field of medically indicated surgical procedures to the benefit of the patient. The field of reconstructive orbital surgery perfectly shows the big advantages in plastic and reconstructive surgery: especially in this field the developments of computer-assisted planning, improvements in biomaterials and the aspect of biologically adequate reconstructive surgery are represented. Due to the fact that this region depends on the appropriate functioning of six cranial nerves the demand for precise reconstructive surgery is obvious.

This paper contributes to the understanding of the need for precise preoperative diagnostics, accurate preoperative and virtual planning including intraoperative navigation of blueprints, advances in biomaterials and highly advanced knowledge of the interaction between soft tissue reconstruction and hard tissue reconstruction.