So why should you choose the 9th edition of Grabb and Smith's Plastic Surgery over other textbooks and resources? Here are just a few reasons:

The fields of aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery evolve rapidly, rendering older textbooks obsolete. The Ninth Edition addresses these advancements directly, securing its place as a Doody’s Essential Title.

: The book uses a more concise, bulleted text format and is approximately 250 pages shorter

The 9th edition is approximately and is available through major retailers like Amazon and Wolters Kluwer . For those preferring digital formats, it is also available as an eTextbook via platforms like VitalSource .

Core concepts are placed at the beginning of each chapter to align with board exam blueprints.

than the 8th edition, though it delivers more information through tighter line spacing. Visual Assets : Includes nearly 1,000 full-color illustrations

The 8th edition was a workhorse, but it was showing its age. Published nearly a decade ago, it lacked robust coverage of vascularized composite allotransplantation (face/hand transplants), modern gender-affirming surgery, and the latest evidence in nerve regeneration. The 9th edition had a high bar to clear.

After an in-depth page-by-page comparison with the 8th Edition and extensive feedback from early adopters in academic training programs, the consensus is clear: However, "better" means different things to different users. Below, we break down the specific upgrades, new features, and potential drawbacks to help you decide if this edition deserves a spot on your shelf (or tablet).

The 8th edition contained virtually nothing on this rapidly expanding subspecialty. The 9th edition dedicates an entire, comprehensive chapter to gender-affirming mastectomy, facial feminization, and genital reconstruction. This alone makes the 9th edition "better" for any modern training program, as these procedures are now core competencies required by the ACGME.

: Fresh protocols on bone fixation, complex wrist fractures, and treating distal radius or forearm trauma ensure the text remains the gold standard for hand call. Engineered for Board and ITE Success

and procedural videos designed to assist with surgical planning and technique visualization. Multimedia Integration : The purchase typically includes a Print + eBook

43 high-definition procedural videos embedded directly in the curriculum Maximizing Board and Clinical Preparation