History of Cosmetic Surgery
Plastic surgery evolved over the course of millennia to become one of the most common procedures performed around the world. It has expanded beyond simply reconstruction of defects and injuries into elective surgery to enhance and expand natural features or make them conform to what every individual believes they should look like.
Even though it seems our modern society is obsessed with the novelty of plastic surgery, the roots of this now everyday procedure stretch back almost 3000 years ago to the ancient Egyptians and Indians. Ancient papyrus texts detail how surgeons even in that primitive age performed reconstructions on lips, noses, and ears using skin grafts cut from folds from the forehead or cheek.
Surgical techniques became more sophisticated through the Greek and Roman period, with texts that outlined procedures as complicated as tensionless suture lines and lip reconstruction. Advanced knowledge about blood circulation, tissue health, and bone reconstruction were codified into books and scrolls that were disseminated throughout the ancient world.
Reconstructive surgery flourished for a thousand years before humanity entered into an age of superstition, fear, and barbarity. In the early Middle Ages plastic surgery was prohibited because of spiritual, ethical, and indeed physical reasons as hygiene and cleanliness became less common. The barber-surgeon became the primary provider of healthcare to the people, and with little trained knowledge most people who needed reconstructive surgery were left to deal with their conditions on their own.
The Renaissance brought an end to the intellectual stagnation of the Middle Ages. Texts from ancient Greece, Rome, and India allowed modern thinkers to rediscover knowledge that had been lost through generations of neglect and ignorance. Combined with an increase in secular power and advances in technology and science, the Renaissance promised to become the golden age of plastic surgery.
Unfortunately, faulty theories and superstition eroded the tentative foothold that not just plastic surgery but medicine in general had established in the 16 th century. It was not until the end of the 18 th century that people would once again embrace the benefits of plastic and reconstructive surgery. An Indian bricklayer repaired the nose of a British cattle driver in 1794 using a technique that reached back thousands of years. This incident was capture in a journal of the time that sparked another interest in plastic surgery, this time one that would last to the modern day.
Developments in the 19 th century laid the groundwork for modern plastic and reconstructive surgery. Understanding of anesthesia, bodily systems, and antiseptic conditions allowed a wider variety of procedures such as cleft lip repair, true skin grafting and even the first aesthetic nose jobs and breast augmentation.
The First World War provided ample opportunities for plastic surgeons to perfect their art. Hundreds of thousands of people needed reconstructive surgeries, which was in one sense fortunate for it allowed these noble doctors to prepare for the even greater conflict that was the Second World War. The hardship and tragedy suffered by millions of people was met with the dedication and professionalism of thousands of dedicated surgeons who sought to relieve their suffering through reconstructing shattered bodies and scarred flesh.
The legacy of modern plastic surgery is directly linked to these doctors. The plastic surgery of the 21 st century would be almost unrecognizable to doctors from only 50 years before, and it shows few signs of slowing down. As more techniques are perfected through research, study, and practice, the art of plastic surgery will be truly able to fulfill the promise of allowing everyone to look as good on the outside as they feel on the inside.