A Short History of Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is rapidly advancing, but the entire history of the advancements paved the way for surgery today. Here is a brief look at how we came so far in such a short time.

Plastic surgery is getting more and more popular as the technology is producing better results with less complications and shorter recovery times. A lot of scientific curiosity and discovery over centuries established the trajectory of the possibilities over times. The procedures that we have today are so revolutionary because of advances over the history of medicine. Here is a brief review of the history of the subject and the latest advances in the field.

The Ancient Greeks were very concerned about the proportions of men and women, with very strict ideas on what should be considered beautiful. Although today’s definition of the word “plastic” seems to mean “fake” or “artificial,” the origin in Greek means “to mold” or “to shape.” 

The very first advance in plastic surgery was skin grafting, ancient forms practiced in India and Byzantium, to avoid the effects of scars on the skin. This was an important step in both medical and aesthetic medicine, showing that you can recover from a medical procedure or injury with less noticeable effects. 

Much of the history of plastic surgery was inspired by the need for patients with deformities. The first account in America was the reconstruction of a cleft palate in the 18th century. In the 19th century, anesthetics were developed and subsequently used for surgery experiments. This greatly helped the advancement of the medical field. One could now undergo a medical procedure without being awake during the process. 

Another necessity for advancement was from the World Wars. Many soldiers were injured as a result of being in combat. Whether injured by guns or by land mines, doctors had to develop ways to reconstruct facial features. These initial procedures were the precursors to popular elective surgeries such as rhinoplasty and facelifts. 

Elective surgery has had great advancements, most made within the last 20 to 30 years. In the early 80s, procedures such as liposuction and breast augmentation had begun making strides as elective surgeries. These were rudimentary versions of what is available today, however the basic methodology is still the same. 

The newest advancement in plastic surgery is utilizing the most natural materials possible: your own body fat – for procedures that augment your features. Liposuction as an option has become progressively less invasive, using more advanced tools and methods for an easier procedure. Today, plastic surgeons are looking to provide the least invasive procedures with the best results and the least amount of recovery time and the advances their making are happening more rapidly. 

If you haven’t recently researched just how advanced today’s procedures are, you would be surprised. In our culture, there are a lot of stigmas associated with plastic surgery but many of the most popular procedures are less invasive than you think, and a lot safer too. If you’re considering liposuction, breast augmentation, or other elective procedure, see what your local surgeon has to offer. It’s come a long way since its origins. 

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