Cosmetic Surgery: Past and Present

Whether you are correcting an imperfection you were born with or one that was created by a traumatic accident, it is no surprise that cosmetic surgery can boost your self-confidence and often improve your quality of life. However, the plastic surgery we know today looks very different from when it began. Here’s closer insight into the history of cosmetic surgery and how it has evolved into such a popular and fascinating surgical specialty in our modern day.

The First Recorded Plastic Surgery

The idea of performing surgery to alter the appearance of someone’s face was first recorded in India in 600 B.C. What was the cosmetic procedure of choice? Rhinoplasty! According to his notes, a surgeon named Sushruta performed a rhinoplasty using skin from the cheek. Other journaled cosmetic procedures from Sushruta include ear lobe surgeries and cleft lip repairs. Wine was used as his anesthetic, and he crafted his own tools to make skin incisions.

Plastic Surgery from Your Barber?

Can you imagine asking the person who cuts your hair to perform plastic surgery on your face or body? This was a common practice in medieval Europe. Barbers were frequently asked to remove skin lesions, pull teeth and even amputate limbs!

Certified Plastic Surgeons Emerged in 1938

The American Board of Surgery first recognized plastic surgery as its own specialty field in 1938. This created the demands and qualifications of formal training for a surgeon to be board-certified before performing plastic surgery. It was during this era that plastic surgery blended with reconstructive procedures, as soldiers from WWI and WWII needed treatment for traumatic injuries.

Cosmetic Surgery Hits A Rising Trend

The desire to undergo cosmetic procedures to change or improve one’s appearance is becoming more popular by the year. In fact, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), almost 18 million people underwent surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures in the United States in 2018. Even men are taking advantage of a wide range of appearance-altering procedures. When it comes to facial plastic surgery, rhinoplasty and eyelid surgery top the list.

Modern Day Cosmetic Surgery is Becoming Less Invasive

Advancing technologies such as lasers, laparoscopic cameras and other devices foster smaller incisions and less recovery time for cosmetic surgery patients. This also makes plastic surgery safer, as there is less chance for bleeding and infection.

To learn more about the current trends, techniques and technologies used in plastic surgery, contact Dr. Ben Talei in Beverly Hills.