History of Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery deals with shaping and sculpting ofPlastic Surgeons is bestowed upon Jacques
the human body. Appropriately enough, the wordMaliniac and Gustave Aufricht, who were
"plastic" is derived from the Greek word "plastiko,"European surgeons. Plastic surgery grew more
which means "to mold." The initial reconstructiveadvanced during the World War II. The procedure
surgery, which was performed around 500 B.C.,became speedier and more precise during this
has been documented in the Indian Sanskrit texts,time. Since then, it has evolved to help millions of
and the credit for the same goes to the greatpeople across the globe.
Sushruta. Byzantine physician Oribasius has alsoAt the end of the twentieth century, modern
contributed in the evolution of plastic surgeryaesthetic surgery celebrated its 100th birthday.
through his work in the Synagogue Medicae, aMost of the modern practices used in aesthetic
medical encyclopedia.surgery still date back to the early 1880s and
Plastic surgery was then revived in the 14th1890s.
century and again later in the 18th century. DuringThere has been a surge in the number of
this time, anesthesia was introduced to theaesthetic surgery patients and procedures over
procedure, making it more common and lessthe years. The past two decades have shown a
risky. John Roe, in 1891, was the first Americandrastic growth in the people opting for such
to introduce the aesthetic approach to plasticsurgery.
surgery. However, it was only during and afterIt is very interesting to note that with the
World War I that the surgeries were furtherevolution of aesthetic surgery, the entire
fine-tuned and became more mainstream becauseappearance of a person can be altered, making
of necessity. During the war there were manypeople more acceptable to both themselves and
soldiers who experienced severe head injuries.to the world at large.
The credit of founding the American Society of