History of Plastic Surgery

Since the very beginning of civilization, human beings had been in the pursuit of beautifying themselves. Thus, you need not be surprised by the fact that plastic surgery came to be referred as one of the oldest arts of healing in the world.

In fact, records are available to prove the fact that even 4000 years back, plastic surgeries were commonly used to correct facial injuries.

In ancient India, physicians made use of skin grafts for reconstruction from 800 B.C. This art developed later on in the European countries.


Eastern medicine took up reconstruction and plastic surgeries more popularly, and there are a number of incidents of reconstructive surgeries and skin grafting in different parts of the world throughout history.

Progress in plastic surgeries was much slower for a few thousand years, as the techniques used in India found application in the West with new and more refined approaches to it. Further progresses were made in the field of medicine, which are recorded in the ancient texts.

During this period, Aulus Cornelius Celsus composed ‘De Medicina’, dealing with surgical methods involved in the reconstruction of the lips, nose, and ears. During the Byzantine period, Oribasius published a complete medical encyclopedia titled ‘Synagogue Medicae’.

Plastic surgery during Renaissance and the Middle Ages

Although plastic surgeries were common throughout the Middle Ages, there was no important breakthrough during this period, probably owing to fall of the Roman empire as well as spread of Christianity.

During this part, science mostly gave way to religion and mysticism with Pope Innocent III declaring surgeries prohibited by the Church.

During this era, this pursuit for scientific knowledge was more or less limited by spiritual as well as personal concerns. Furthermore, even the safety of patients was compromised due to a low standard of cleanliness and hygiene. There was only a slight advancement in this field during this period mostly to repair cleft lips.

During the Renaissance, there were a number of significant advancements in the fields of science, which resulted in safer as well as comparatively more effective techniques of surgery.

Plastic surgery during the wars

Although plastic surgery during the seventeenth century did not progress much, the situation changed once again in the eighteenth century.

Plastic surgery did not progress much before the 20th century, when reconstructive surgeries became essential for a number of soldiers. The First World War introduced significant developments in the field of plastic surgery.

Physicians in the battlefield had to treat a number of facial as well as head injuries caused through modern weapons.

These injuries necessitated innovations in this field. Some of the best surgeons in Europe dedicated their practice to restoring the country’s warriors to their normal original self. It was in this period that the surgeons came to realize the immense importance of one’s looks and the influence it can cast on an individual’s life.

Due to this reason, aesthetic surgery replaced plastic surgery in a number of domains. This progress brought, along with it, a much improved knowledge of anesthesia as well as ways to prevent infection.

This allowed the surgeons to get on with much complex procedures of plastic surgery. During this period, surgeries stopped being solely reconstructive and turned on to be more cosmetic in nature.

Plastic surgery in United States

Although most of the progresses in medical science took place in Europe, a number of surgical strides also took place in the United States, like the cleft palate operation.

Conclusion


Plastic surgery has undergone significant number of changes from the time it was first introduced. Now, it enjoys widespread popularity. The most widespread form of plastic surgery nowadays rests in removing the signs of aging.

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