What does dermaplasty refer to?

Dermaplasty specifically refers to the surgical repair of the skin, which aligns directly with its roots in medical terminology. The prefix "derma-" comes from the Greek word "derma," meaning skin, and the suffix "-plasty" refers to surgical formation or repair. Therefore, when these terms are combined, they indicate a procedure aimed at repairing or reconstructing skin tissue, often due to injury, trauma, or other medical conditions that may affect the skin's integrity.

The other options reflect different medical concepts: cancer of the skin relates to dermatological malignancies such as melanoma, inflammation of the skin points to conditions like dermatitis, and the study of the skin refers to dermatology as a medical specialty. However, none of these accurately capture the definition of dermaplasty, confirming that the correct answer directly defines the surgical aspect of skin repair.