“Restorative art” is the practice of preparing the body features of a deceased person for viewing. It’s part and parcel of embalming, and it’s been done for a long time. Abraham Lincoln was embalmed, and certainly cosmetic work was done there.

Now, it seems people are planning ahead to have certain things done after they die. MSNBC has more.

The New York Times has an interesting short piece about an embalmer in NYC. In my time around the funeral industry, I had occasion to visit prep rooms, and occasionally see bodies in there. Never had the opportunity to observe an embalming procedure.