Modern Developments in Cosmetic Surgery

Plastic surgery has been around in one form or another for in excess of 4,000 years. We can trace the beginnings of cosmetic surgery back to India and to a gentleman called Sushutra. Around this time it was not uncommon for some punishments for crimes to include the amputation of the nose. In response, some of the first plastic surgeries carried out were to replace the nose with skin form the shoulder. Other early pioneers of cosmetic surgery included the Romans and Egyptians. It was not until comparatively late in history, around the1500s, until Europeans began such surgery.

Some of the key dates in history, relating to cosmetic surgery, included the early 1700s, when British physicians began studying and practicing Indian techniques. Following this, during the 1800s, followed the widespread adaptation of these techniques, in conjunction with a period of rapid instrument development. It is in fact from this period of time that many modern day surgical instruments are still based. Perhaps the last major significant innovations were with the introduction of improved sterile procedures, the discovery of antibiotics and the use of effective painkillers.

Before the advent of better sterile procedures the chance of patients succumbing to infection was relatively high. The possibility of these infections leading to a fatality was also a distinct possibility. The use of disinfectants, sterile operating protocols and the discovery of penicillin did much to significantly reduce the number of deaths through post operative complications. Today, death through post operative complications is very rare indeed.

The next leap in techniques and practice occurred during and following the World War 1. At this time many soldiers returned with severe disfigurement and burns. Sir Harold Gillies was a pioneer for his work in this area and he set the foundation for many of our current cosmetic surgical treatments and procedures. This work was further developed and expanded on during World War 2. Much of the innovation during this time was carried out by Archibald McInroe, the cousin of Harold Gillies.

If we look at cosmetic surgery today, compared to even 20 or 30 years ago, the widespread use is staggering. Plastic surgery, once the exclusive arena of stars and the super rich, is available, and indeed much more socially acceptable, to all. Last year alone 15 million people underwent some form of plastic surgery. No doubt, this is in no small part, due to our ever expanding relative wealth and disposable income. It could also be argued that as we become a more obsessed celebrity culture we are more likely to be influenced and want to copy the behavior of these people.

The latest rends in cosmetic surgery have also seen large increases in the number of men seeking the services of a cosmetic surgeon. This was something almost unheard of only a short time ago. The most common plastic surgeries performed today include, liposuction, breast implants and corrective eye surgery. And finally, we cannot finish without mentioning the explosion of people seeking non surgical cosmetic procedures over the last ten years. Specifically, undergoing the injection of collagen and Botox, which in many ways has transformed the cosmetic surgeon's clinics of today.