From the ancient world through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, up until World War II, this book provides a thorough history of plastic surgery operations and their progress. Essentially, the history of plastic surgery can be traced back to the countless battles that early man had to wage to cure his wounds. The story traces the discipline’s emergence, decline, and resurgence over the ages. It highlights the resourcefulness that plastic surgeons displayed to correct face disfigurements of diverse origins, whether congenital or acquired, and highlights the development of contemporary reconstructive and cosmetic treatments. The article also emphasizes the significant influence human anatomy research had on the development of surgery.
Chapters cover the history of aesthetic surgery, which is rarely mentioned in contemporary scientific writing. The book is a superb addition to the annals of surgery and is richly illustrated with hundreds of photos taken from the primary author’s own collection. It not only pays tribute to the books and artworks that have documented these extraordinary feats, but it also honors the great pioneers of the past whose reconstructive and aesthetic work served as the foundation for contemporary surgical successes.A vital tool for plastic, maxillofacial, and aesthetic surgeons is Plastic Surgery – An Illustrated History. This work will be interesting to anyone studying surgery, medical history, or medical illustration.
