Q. What is the history of cosmetic surgery?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Cosmetic surgery is a medical specialty that has evolved greatly over the centuries, but its origins can be traced back to ancient civilizations. The first documented cosmetic surgery procedure can be found in India as early as 1200 BC with the Sushruta Samhita- a surgical guide written by Persian-Indian doctor Sushruta. This text detailed procedures for nose reconstructions, tissue repair, and other surgeries related to facial reconstruction.
In Ancient Rome and Greece, patients underwent “plastic operations” such as forehead lifts and even lip augmentation using fat from others’ bodies or the patient's own body parts. During this time period, surgeons also used skin grafts to correct damaged areas of skin caused by things like burns or injuries suffered in battle.
The modern form of cosmetic surgery was largely developed during the 19th century by doctors such as Jacques Joseph who performed breast augmentations using paraffin injections; Robert Weir who specialized in rhinoplasty (nose reshaping); Sir Harold Gillies who developed techniques for treating disfiguring facial injuries suffered during World War I; and Milton Edgerton who created facelift techniques still used today. By the latter part of the 20th century plastic surgeons were performing multiple different types of procedures including breast augmentations, rhinoplasties, abdominoplasty (tummy tucks), liposuction and more.
Today there are thousands of board certified plastic surgeons all over the world that specialize in helping people look –and feel– their best through cosmetic enhancements such as face lifts, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), neck lifts or brow lifts among many others possible treatments available now!