How cosmetic surgery evolved through the years seattle facial. Many people think of breast implants and Michael Jackson’s famous nose when they think of cosmetic surgery. But it is more than just that. Many cosmetic surgeries are performed because of an accident or to improve a person’s physical appearance.
According to the Greek word plastike (which means modeling), the plastic in “plastic surgery” is not the synthetic polymer, but the sculpting and shaping. It is therefore more commonly referred to as cosmetic surgery. Correcting or restoring a problem is the specific area of medicine. This type of surgery is not only for aesthetic reasons but also for medical needs, like burns, microsurgery and hand surgery.
Cosmetic surgery has been around for more than 4,000-years, but most historians believe it dates back to India in the 800 B.C. It was developed by Indian doctors like Sashruta (known as “father of Indian Surgery”) Charak also made significant contributions to modern aesthetic surgery through his writings written in Sanskrit, Arabic and other languages. These eventually found their way to Europe where Italians could use the methods of Sashruta.
British surgeons traveled to India for the first time in 1794 to witness Kumbar Vaidva’s rhinoplasties, which were published in Gentleman’s Magazine. Aulus Cornelius was able, in his writings to describe cosmetic surgeries that were performed using skin-grafts. Chopart, a surgeon in Europe from 1792, used skin grafts. In 1814 Joseph Carouc successfully reconstructed a nose for a soldier who lost it to mercury poisoning. Carl Ferdinand von Graefe’s book Rhinoplastik was published in 1818. It emphasized a graft using skin taken from an arm. .
The first cosmetic surgery in America was performed by Dr. John Peter Mettauer on 1827 using his own instruments. Johann Friedrich Dieffenbach published the Operative Chinergie in 1845. This book introduced the concept of sculpting the nose to America. World War I was a time of many facial burns and injuries due to new weaponry. In many cases, medical miracles were required to reconstruct the face back to its original appearance. This forever changed the face of plastic surgery. In 1931 the Society of Plastic and Reconstructive surgeons was founded, which led to the invention of new and inventive reconstructive and aesthetic surgeries.
As there is an intense amount of pain, elective cosmetic surgery today would not be possible without extensive anesthetic use for pain relief. Penicillin and other antibiotics, as well as disinfectants introduced in the 1950s and 1960s, have greatly reduced the risk of infection both during and following these procedures. We’ve seen plastic surgeons as both Surgeon Generals and Nobel Prize winners. The public is more aware of the truths of cosmetic surgery due to recent changes in the cosmetic surgery profession. Complete facial transplants are also being experimented with, as well as other advancements in modern cosmetic surgeries. As our medical community progresses, new cosmetic enhancements will be developed.