Endoscopic microsurgery is a developing technique in plastic surgery. There are many advantages over traditional methods: improved access to difficult and hidden areas, better mobility, one optical instrument for endoscopic dissection and the microsurgical part, reduced overall costs, and a possibility to develop new procedures supported by the use of the endoscope. In the first volume of the series "Update in Plastic Surgery” internationally acknowledged experts give an up-to-date view of the clinical possibilities in plastic surgery which result from video-assisted microsurgery with the endoscope. Advantages and disadvantages are discussed, and reasons are presented why it can be assumed that this technique will be the standard in plastic surgery within a few years.