Positive Effects of War Time Plastic Surgery

The term plastic surgery stands for the “operative manual and instrumental treatment performed for both functional and aesthetic reasons.” Plastic surgery has two broad fields — reconstructive surgery and cosmetic. The term ‘plastic’ was derived from the Greek word plastikos meaning to mold or form, which in turn, is what plastic surgeons do to their patients. Many others believe the true origins began with the foundations of early papyri from Egypt or even Sanskrit texts of ancient India. Within these texts from nearly 2,600 years ago (Cisaschini) were descriptions of nose, ear and lip reconstructions.
The first use of the term “plastic surgery” was not used until 1818 by Von Graeme in his book Rhinoplastik. While technique, medication treatments and procedures have changed over the year, the underlying concept of the procedure has remained the same — restoration of the normal form and function or enhancement to a super normal proportion. 

According to EVOLVE, the official website of certified plastic surgeons, the first plastic surgery occurred in 1827 by Dr. John Peter Mettauer who performed a cleft palate operation. The modern plastic surgery procedures began in the 1960s & 70s. The need to look perfect is haunting many of America’s people — with increasing cosmetic surgery rates almost yearly. 

However, the origin of the procedures began with war patients who needs body reconstruction during the war. During World War 1, doctors changed the history of plastic surgery. Many of the modern weapons caused severe wounds and burns causing a rise in the amount of treatments occurring. Shattered jaws, blown-off noses and lips and gaping skull wounds caused by modern weapons required innovative restorative procedures. Some of the best doctors from Britain, France, Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary took time to restore the faces and lives of soldiers during and after World War I.