The Philosophy of Microsurgery

A philosophy is defined as a set of guiding principles that informs thought and behavior. In some cases, the expression of a philosophy and its specific tenets can be experienced through the practice and perfection of a skill. We believe that microsurgery should be appreciated not only as a technical expertise used to help solve complex reconstructive problems but also as a philosophy that can be applied to both microsurgical and nonmicrosurgical situations. This article conceptualizes microsurgery as a philosophy using 5 principal tenets: mindfulness, vascularity, improvisation, unconscious competence, and devotion to habit. These principles establish a unique way of thinking that can influence how plastic surgeons operate, solve problems, and teach.