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Physicians in ancient cultures treated facial injuries and performed skin reconstruction thousands of years ago. A Virginian doctor named Peter Mettauer fixed a patient’s cleft palate in 1827. Soldiers’ catastrophic injuries brought plastic surgery to a new level during and after World War I. Rather than a recently-developed medical science; plastic surgery is one of the oldest healing arts.

Ancient Cultures

Although no solid evidence exists that suggests they performed procedures on the living, historical scholars suggest the ancient Egyptians performed cosmetic surgery on their dead to ensure their faces kept the same appearance in the afterlife. The first culture to perform plastic surgery on the living is Ancient India, where surgeons thousands of years ago performed procedures on noses and ears. These physicians were using skin grafts as early as 800 B.C. The ancient Romans performed circumcision, scar removal and even breast reduction surgery. Although plastic surgery declined in popularity during the Middle Ages, it regained prominence during the Renaissance, when Italian surgeon Gasparo Tagliacozzi – recognized as the father of modern plastic surgery – used skin flaps from the upper arm to repair nose damage.

The Role of War

Much of the innovation in 20th century plastic surgery resulted from the necessity of treating the horrific injuries of wartime. Deep skull wounds, severely broken jaws and disfigured lips and noses made restoration a priority for physicians serving the forces during World War I and World War II. Hence, “plastic surgery” with “plastic” derived from the Greek language meaning “to mold or shape” grew.

Today

Every year plastic surgery science develops exciting new techniques that provide superior results with less invasiveness and less risk. Botox temporarily eliminates wrinkles; Smart Lipo patients have less downtime and pain than traditional liposuction patients. Advances in pain management such as the On-Q pain pump and Exparel allow for more comfortable recovery and less narcotic use. Plastic surgery not only helps restore function, but also helps restore form through reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.