Welcome to the world of plastic surgery! If you are one of the many people wondering why this medical procedure is referred to as “plastic surgery,” you may be surprised to learn that it actually has a long history dating back to its inception in India in the 7th century. Since then, plastic surgery has been used to correct facial disfigurements, enhance physical appearance and reverse the effects of aging.
In this article, we will journey through the history of plastic surgery and explore why it is called as such. Keep reading for an in-depth look at this fascinating topic.
Why Is It Called Plastic Surgery?
Plastic surgery is a type of medical procedure that involves altering or reshaping a person’s body to correct physical deformities, improve a person’s appearance, or restore lost facial features.It is a broad field and may include reconstructive surgery, aesthetic surgery, and craniofacial surgery. Unlike aesthetic surgery, which is performed to create symmetry and to improve physical appearance, plastic surgery is designed to repair physical defects, correct deformities and restore lost physical feature.
The Origins of Plastic Surgery
The term “plastic surgery” has been used to refer to this medical procedure for over a century.The term has its beginnings in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries where the methodology was used to repair the deformities caused by congenital diseases, facial trauma, and burns. The pioneering surgeons of the era were able to perform reconstructive surgery by using what was then known as “plastic material” to repair the defects.
The Development of Plastic Surgery and How It Evolved
Since its origin as reconstructive surgery, plastic surgery has gone through a rapid and dramatic evolution. During World War I, the need for plastic surgery arose as a way to help soldiers who had suffered severe facial injuries in battle. Surgeons innovated and discovered new techniques to rebuild the faces of those injured in the war.The development of plastic surgery in World War II had a similar purpose. Doctors continued to develop and refine the tools and techniques to help soldiers and civilians who had been disfigured in battle and by the bombing. In the post-war years, plastic surgery continued to grow and evolve.
Beginning in the 1970s, the practice of plastic surgery began to move away from reconstructive purposes and become more focused on aesthetics. Surgeons began to specialize in this kind of plastic surgery, creating a new breed of practitioners.