What is the term used for the care given to the deceased to recreate a natural appearance?

The term used for the care given to the deceased to recreate a natural appearance is restorative art. This practice involves techniques and skills that mortuary professionals utilize to restore the deceased's features, maintain a lifelike appearance, and provide comfort to grieving families. Restorative art encompasses a variety of methods, including sculpting, painting, and the use of special materials to address issues like trauma, decomposition, or other alterations to the body that may affect its appearance.

While embalming does relate to the preparation of the body, its primary focus is on preservation rather than aesthetics. Autopsy refers to the examination of a body to determine the cause of death and doesn't involve enhancing appearance. Cosmetic application may be part of preparing a body for viewing but is not comprehensive enough to cover the full scope of restorative art, which is specifically aimed at making a deceased individual appear as natural as possible for funeral services.