The Ancient Origins of Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery gets its name not because the plastic was used to reshape the nose and cheek bones and butt. The plastic in plastic surgery actually has its roots in the plastikos Greek word that means providing some form or shape. The use of a Greek word for what is assumed to be a modern invention is not exactly the story here. The real story is that plastic surgery is much older than assumed. In fact, there is evidence that plastic surgery was practiced for thousands of years to rebuild parts of the body by a variety of reasons. Evidence exists that cosmetic surgery was done by the older physicians in India eight centuries before Christ. These
ancient Indian doctors were really the first physicians of what is known today as the skin graft, removing a piece of skin from a portion of the body to be used in another. The Hindus used the skin graft to engage in a process that today is the unfortunate name of rhinoplasty. There was a surprisingly large number of noses in India that needed to be rebuilt. Noses were considered symbols of pride, therefore proved to be absolutely white of the temptation during the war. Besides the multiple damage to the Indian nose as a result of the war, other noses that required surgical repair following the damage brought on by legal punishment for transgressions. Amputation of the nose was considered appropriate and just punishment for multiple offenses, including adultery. Surgeons began by measuring the nose, before applying the wax on the stump for molding. The procedure was completed by removing the skin of the person 'cheek, forehead and folded so. Believe it or not, but it is believed that this early work was amazingly successful nose, except for scarring where the skin was grafted. It was not just nose jobs that Indians were getting old though. These people were very fashionable and consequently not only adults but children also were adorned with earrings that were built out of materials often quite heavy. It was not uncommon that this heavy jewelry from the earlobe open and allow the dangerous infection. Skin grafts were also on course to be undertaken in this kind of early plastic surgery, usually with a skin graft from the cheek lobe sutured to repair the incision. These explorations early in a medical practice that would keep the rich from doctors and aging actresses in the business was separated during ancient times to Greece and Rome, where it was routine practice if not then certainly not rare. In fact, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian II underwent plastic surgery Indian-style after his nose had been amputated after his deposition and exile in AD 695. Ten years later he regained the throne and with the new nickname of her nose cut off. The rise of the Catholic church brought an end to plastic surgery early, however, when Pope Innocent III declared that all surgery was banned. Imagine a world where religious leaders could declare what kind of medical treatment was allowed and not allowed based on the nebulous ideas concerning the morality of the procedure.