A Historical Look At Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery is always considered a modern phenomenon which is often attributed to current obsessions with beauty, but cosmetic surgery isn’t that new, and can actually be traced back throughout history…
At Ashbury Cosmetic Surgery in Brisbane and the Gold Coast we appreciate the history of our industry, which is why we want to reflect on the history of cosmetic surgery. Believe it or not, signs of plastic surgery or reconstructive surgery can be traced back to Ancient Egypt.
The ancient days of cosmetic surgery…
If we look through some of history’s most significant civilizations, there are signs of surgery that was done to enhance or beautify the look of its peoples.
The Egyptians:
Research shows that Egyptians would alter the dead during mummification with seeds and cloths to ensure their most prominent features where highlighted in the afterlife. Some mummies have even been found with bandages stuffed in their cheeks and belly in the same sense that modern plastic surgeons implant silicone into a body today.
The Indians:
It is widely agreed among historians that the first recorded account of reconstructive plastic surgery on the living is evident in ancient Indian Sanskrit texts. These texts describe procedures to repair noses and ears that were lost either as punishment for crimes or in battle. Some of these procedures where carried throughout history and used well into the present. An old Sanskrit message about nose repair was a method used until 1977, and was commonly known as Indian Method of Rhinoplasty.
The Romans:
Romans began practising advanced plastic surgery procedures in the first century B.C., with the surgery thought to have been prompted by the very public Roman baths. The Roman culture praised the beauty of the naked body in both art and poetry, and so began the connection between surgery and beauty.
As we move to the Middle Ages we saw advancements in this industry…
Plastic surgery gained momentum during the Middle Ages because of society’s increased obsession with the human body. Galen prominent (Greek-speaking Roman physician, surgeon and philosopher) attempted to cure eyes that squinted and drooped, and performed aesthetic rhinoplasty on both women and men of wealth who simply wanted a new nose.
A rise in plastic surgery during the Renaissance…
The Italian Gasparo Tagliacozzi (1546-1599) is commonly recognised as the father of modern plastic surgery and as the first author of a plastic surgery textbook, De curtorum chirugiau (1597). His writing discusses the need for reconstructive surgery after duals and brawls between men.
The Enlightenment saw surgery enlightened also…
This era brought medical advancements a move to a medical model for understanding multiple treatments. In a time of individualism and change, not only medically but socially as well, the technology for plastic surgery began to develop more rapidly and treatment began becoming more mainstream.
From then to now…
As time has passed we have seen the advancement of technology, particularly within the last two centuries, that has allowed us to produce more effective and more efficient treatments. At Ashbury Cosmetic Surgery we use innovative laser technology along with methods that ensure we are providing our patients with the most up-to-date treatments.
At Ashbury Cosmetic Surgery we pride ourselves on using advanced technology to provide the best treatments for our patients. Learning about the history of cosmetic surgery helps us to understand where we are today and where we are going tomorrow.
If you are interested in finding out more about this procedure or our other treatments, we recommend that you contact one of our clinics in Brisbane at 07 385 761 88 or the Gold Coast at 07 557 068 00.