Breast Augmentation Has A Longer History Than You Think

Timmie Jean Lindsey

The first successful breast augmentation was likewise reconstructive rather than cosmetic as the patient had previously had a large tumor and a portion of her left breast removed. German surgeon Vincenz Czerny used a good-sized lipoma-a fatty, benign tumor-from the patient’s back to reconstruct the breast, and it’s safe to assume that the attempt was only able to be made because biological material from the patient was available to work with. 

This happened in 1895, and surgeons spent the next 70 years trying to come up with a viable material for commercial breast implants. Paraffin, alcohol-soaked sponges, and beeswax all failed to make the grade, but fortunately for breasts everywhere, Houston junior resident surgeon Frank Gerow came along in the early 1960s. Gerow conceived of the silicone implant after squeezing a blood bag and noting the similarity to a woman’s breast. His first experimental procedure was performed on a dog. It was successful, and before you ask, yes, the implants were removed once it was determined to be so.

Timmie Jean Lindsey, his pilot human patient, was asked to volunteer for the procedure after coming in to consult about having a tattoo removed. She was thrilled with the results. As a testament to the viability of the procedure, she still retains her implants—the first ones ever—to this day.

source: listverse.com

Its Name Has Nothing To Do With Plastic

Gaspare Tagliacozzi

The documented beginnings of plastic surgery techniques date all the way back to the 16th century when Italian physician Gaspare Tagliacozzi—who was himself copying techniques described in an Indian manual written roughly 1,000 years earlier—successfully reconstructed the damaged nose of a patient using tissue from the inner arm. But the term “plastic” was first used to describe these techniques in 1837—a good 18 years before the invention of plastic, the substance.

The term is from the Greek plastikos, meaning to mold or shape, and specialists in these techniques were initially far more focused on the reconstruction of misshapen or damaged body parts than cosmetic augmentation. By the mid-19th century, advances in anesthesia and sterilization had made it possible for more daring procedures, such as the original nose job, to be attempted.

Throughout this time, however, plastic surgery was not formally recognized as a branch of medicine despite its obvious potential. And while it is true that its early focus was helping those disfigured by injury or disease, we will take a brief aside to answer your other obvious question.

A Plastic Surgeon Performed The First Organ Transplant

Although most people don’t think of transplant procedures as having much to do with plastic surgery, they involve many of the same small-scale techniques, such as reconstruction and reattaching of nerves and tissue and dealing with the potential for rejection. Indeed, the first successful organ transplant of any kind—in this case, a kidney—was performed by renowned plastic surgeon Joseph E. Murray in 1954.

Murray was already highly regarded for his work furthering the treatment of burn victims and those with facial disfigurements. However, this transplant procedure was incredibly groundbreaking in that, up until it was actually achieved, nobody even knew whether or not it was possible.A decade of research and experimentation on the part of Dr. Murray had failed to yield positive results. With an assist from a donor organ given by the patient’s identical twin, the successful 1954 procedure ignited the medical community with possibilities simply by establishing organ transplants as viable.Dr. 

Murray subsequently became an international authority on transplant and rejection biology, even helping to develop the first generation of immunosuppressants in the 1960s. In 1990, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his pioneering work. He was one of only nine surgeons, and the only plastic surgeon, to ever receive the award.

source: listverse.com

A Plastic Surgeon Helped Make Cars Safer

Debates over auto safety, which had been raging for some time prior, came to a head in 1935 with the publication of a Readers’ Digest article entitled “—And Sudden Death.” Author Joseph C. Furnas mainly took the tack of shaming careless drivers, attempting to shock them into better behavior by opining that for the reckless driver, the best hope was to be “thrown out as the doors spring open. 

At least you are spared the lethal array of gleaming metal knobs and edges and glass inside the car.”While it did not seem to occur to Furnas that optimizing the safety of the actual vehicle would be helpful, Detroit plastic surgeon Claire Straith arrived at this commonsense conclusion after several years of specializing in the reconstruction of faces of car accident survivors.

After Straith sent a sternly worded letter to Walter P. Chrysler, five different Chrysler models were introduced in 1937 with features that were specifically designed with safety in mind, a first for any auto manufacturer. These features included rubber buttons instead of steel, rounded door handles, and recessed knobs.Although it would take a while for Straith’s other recommendations—padded dashboards and safety belts—to be implemented, it didn’t stop the good doctor from installing both in his own vehicle years before they became standard.

source: listverse.com

Modern Reconstructive Surgery Was Pioneered During World War I

While the aforementioned advances in anesthesia and antisepsis had plastic surgeons performing complex procedures on delicate areas by the early 1900s, the burgeoning specialty had never seen challenges such as those presented by World War I. Entire new categories of explosives and weapons were being deployed on the battlefield, and thousands of soldiers were returning home with the types of injuries that had literally never been seen before.

It was in leading the response to these challenges that the field underwent perhaps its greatest sustained period of advancement, largely thanks to the efforts of New Zealand–born, London-based surgeon Harold Gillies, widely considered the father of modern plastic surgery. Recently uncovered records detail over 11,000 procedures performed on more than 3,000 soldiers in the eight years between 1917 and 1925, including groundbreaking skin and muscle grafting techniques that had never before been attempted. As antibiotics did not yet exist, infection was always a major concern. Dr. Gillies mitigated this by inventing the tube pedicle or “walking-stalk skin flap” technique, which involves rolling the graft to be used into a tube and “walking” it up to the target site. 

This technique alone likely spared thousands from infections.When the war ended, Gillies and other wartime plastic surgery pioneers were frustrated to find that their techniques and expertise were not exactly welcomed with open arms by the medical community at large. The field was not well-defined, and its practitioners had no means of sharing expertise or defining areas of specialty until the American Society of Plastic Surgeons was founded in 1931.

source: listverse.com

A Plastic Surgeon Also Performed The First Successful Hand Transplant

Dr. Warren Breidenbach, chief of the Division of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery at the University of Arizona in mid-2016, has had a long and storied career. His current focus includes the establishment of an institute for the study of composite tissue transplantation and leading-edge work on immunosuppressants. He is considered the world’s foremost authority on hand transplants and for good reason. In 1999, he became the first surgeon to perform the procedure successfully.

The recipient, Matthew Scott, had lost his hand in a fireworks accident an unbelievable 14 years prior to receiving the landmark surgery. Planning the procedure took three years. Breidenbach had to deal with the scrutiny of the entire medical community over ethics concerns as once again there were serious questions as to whether the procedure was even viable. Previous attempts—one in 1964 when immunosuppressant drugs were in their infancy and one just a year prior in 1998—had both resulted in the host’s immune system rejecting the donor hand. Since this time, over 85 recipients have received hand or arm transplants worldwide, including children, amputees, and victims of explosives. 

Once again, the procedure could never have come to fruition without the advances already made by plastic surgeons and it took one of the very best to do it successfully. As of 2016, Breidenbach has performed more hand transplants than any other surgeon and has trained the majority of the rest who are qualified to perform the procedure in the US.

‘Medical Tourism’ For Plastic Surgery Is Exploding

As such, those in the market for expensive procedures—both cosmetic and medical—have been increasingly looking to countries where the cost of health care is more manageable. But we’re not talking about stereotypical back-alley Mexican nose jobs.Although Mexico and Brazil are still getting their share of the so-called “medical tourism” market, newer major players like Dubai and Thailand are able to offer high-tech, quality care in a price range that is actually forcing the Western medical establishment to up its game in the face of their competition. Thailand, for example, has become a world leader in medical tourism with cutting-edge equipment, internationally trained surgeons, and hospitals that look and feel more like luxury hotels than medical facilities. In 2013 alone, the country brought in a whopping $4.3 billion solely from foreigners seeking medical treatment.

The Newest Techniques Don’t Involve Surgery At All

Of course, for minor and less invasive procedures such as tucks and face-lifts, newer techniques are always being sought out to reduce healing time and potential scarring. New York plastic surgeon Doug Steinbrech offers a surgery-free face-lift, thanks to a special device that slowly stretches the skin over the course of three hours (under anesthesia, of course). Although stitches are required, healing is complete in five days, and the whole thing only costs $35,000, making it ideal for those who sleep on piles of money and really, really hate knives.Fellow New Yorker Dr. Doris Day—who is, of course, a local media personality with a name like that—has also demonstrated nonsurgical techniques that use ultrasound to shrink problem areas, followed by Botox and laser treatments. Ultrasound can similarly be used in place of traditional liposuction.

Men Are Pulling Even With Women

Most of us tend to think of surgery purely for cosmetic purposes as a largely female pursuit, and in years past, this may have been the case. But in recent times, the numbers show that a rapidly growing segment of this market—$14 billion annually as of 2014—is professional men. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, between 1997 and 2014, there was a 273 percent increase in the number of men seeking cosmetic procedures, with a 43 percent increase just in the last five years of that period. A large part of the reason, says Dr. Steinbrech (him again), is that they view cosmetic surgery as a career investment. “Men are at the top of their career, and they feel young and confident,” said Steinbrech. “But they’re worried they don’t look it.”

Expanded timeline since WWI showing more modern historical milestones of plastic surgery

Here’s an expanded timeline since WWI showing more modern historical milestones:

1931: Drs. Maliniac and Gustave Aufricht found what will become The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) “to advance quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery.”

1940-1945: During WWII nine military plastic surgery centers are created within the United States to better manage the specialized work required to treat facial trauma and burns caused by trench warfare.

1940-1949: Dr. Sterling Bunnell successfully incorporates aspects of general, orthopedic and plastic surgery into treating hand injuries. The next generation of plastic surgeons builds on the technique, firmly establishing hand surgery as an important part of plastic surgery.

1943: Dr. Alma Dean Morani becomes the first female plastic surgeon.

1950-1959: Cleft lip and cleft palate procedures revolutionize the treatment of facial deformities and create new lives for hundreds of thousands of patients.

1960-1969: Dr. Joseph Murray and Dr. Paul Tessier (the “Father of Craniofacial Surgery”) develop new advances in craniofacial surgery.  Dr. Tessier’s technique of exposing more facial bones makes it easier to move pieces of the skull with minimal postoperative complications and becomes the new standard.

1962: Dr. Thomas Cronin unveils the first silicone breast implant.

1970-1979: Under the tutelage of Dr. Joseph Jurkiewicz, surgeons at Emory University develop new techniques involving combination skin/muscle flaps which greatly expand the capabilities of plastic surgeons offering both reconstructive and cosmetic patients more desirable results.

1980-1989: Dr. Carl Hartrampf, co-founder of Atlanta Plastic Surgery, develops the TRAM flap technique for reconstructive breast surgery.

1982: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons sends a blue-ribbon panel to France to investigate the safety and efficacy of new “lipolysis” techniques for fat removal. Later that year, after safety concerns have been met, liposuction is introduced to patients in the US.

1996: American Society of Plastic Surgeons launches the Breast Reconstruction Advocacy Project (BRAP) in an effort to drive legislation requiring insurance companies to cover post-mastectomybreast reconstruction.

1998: President Clinton signs legislation requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of reconstructive breast surgery after mastectomy.

2000-2009: The endoscope, a fiber optic tool used by orthopedic and other surgeons, in introduced into the plastic surgery specialty to reduce scarring and recovery time.

2000-2009: Body contouring is introduced to assist patients with removal and tightening of excess skin after massive weight loss.

2005: The world’s first partial face transplant surgery takes place in France.

2008: A German medical team, headed by Dr. Christoph Hoehnke, performs the first double arm transplant.  The man, 54, was given the arms of a 19 year old.

2010: The world’s first full face transplant is performed in Spain by a team of 30 surgeons headed by Dr. Joan Pere Barret.  The patient, identified only as “Oscar,” was expected to likely regain up to 90% of his facial functions.

Source: psspecialists.com

5 Facts About Plastic Surgery You Didn’t Know

pic:Jennifer Lawrence

Most of these facts involve fascinating ancient practices that helped develop our modern procedures.

It’s amazing to see how things have changed. Without the imagination of plastic surgeons and their patients over the ages, plastic surgery would not be the phenomena it is today in our culture.

1. The word’s origin might help make sense of the term. The word ‘plastic’ in plastic surgery is derived from the Greek word ‘plastikos’. Plastikos means molding or giving form.
2. World War I played a huge role in developing plastic surgery techniques and innovations. It was finally pursued as a legitimate branch of medical science at this time.
3. In ancient Rome, plastic surgery also served reconstructive purposes to wounded soldiers. However, it was often used purely for cosmetic benefit as well. Slaves in that time were whipped on their back. Once freed, those slaves hoped to erase the visible traces of their past by eliminating those scars. Women sometimes received ear surgery to correct stretched out lobes from heavy, hanging ear jewelry.
4. The first breast augmentation was performed in Germany in 1895 to a singer who was asymmetrical. Tissue from her back was removed and  transplanted to her breast.
5. Nose reshaping and breast augmentation are the two most popular plastic surgeries performed across the world. 91% of the people involved in plastic surgeries are women.

COSMETIC SURGERY FACTS (with Statistics)

COSMETIC SURGERY FACTS

What you don’t know about plastic surgery (namely, the pros and cons and all your options) can hurt you—not just your appearance, but also your health and your pocketbook. To help you think about this, here’s an overview of what is available, along with what you need to know about the risks and benefits of different procedures.

We are neither for nor against plastic surgery or cosmetic corrective procedures. What we are always for is knowing the facts—both the pros and the cons—rather than relying on the overhyped promises that some less-than-scrupulous cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists make. Information and realistic expectations are the only way to ensure you know what you are getting and what you’ll end up with.

Whether or not plastic surgery or cosmetic corrective procedures are right for you is a personal choice; each of us must make our own decision. You need to consider your expectations, the appearance-related issues you’re unhappy with, the alternatives, and your budget.

To help you make an informed decision about your options, we’ve prepared an overview of what is available, along with what you need to know about the risks and benefits of the different procedures. It all begins with finding the best doctor for the job—and then you and the doctor can discuss which procedure(s) are your best options!

Cosmetic Surgery or Plastic Surgery?

The terms “plastic surgery” and “cosmetic surgery” are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. Cosmetic surgery is subset of plastic surgery. The difference between a cosmetic or plastic surgeon and a “board-certified” plastic surgeon matters a lot! Training and credentials in surgery are the issues. Although a doctor may offer cosmetic, plastic, or aesthetic surgery, he or she may not be board-certified to perform that type of surgery. The person could be a gynecologist, pediatrician, or dermatologist with no training in cosmetic surgery whatsoever.

Most important: Ask What can go Wrong!

Shockingly, many physicians downplay any risks. A quick review of several cosmetic surgery websites reveals a scarcity of information regarding what can go wrong during or after a procedure—yet each and every medical or cosmetic corrective procedure has risks.

10 Interesting Facts about Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is a medical practice used to improve the aesthetic features of the body or restoration of body parts which get damaged due to accidents. Plastic surgery includes cosmetic and non-cosmetic surgeries, reconstructive surgery, aesthetic surgery, micro-surgery, etc. Although plastic surgery has been practiced since ancient times, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions in the minds of people.

Here are the ten interesting facts about plastic surgery

 1. The word ‘plastic’ in plastic surgery is derived from the Greek word ‘plastikos’. Plastikos means molding or giving form. Hence, the belief that that plastic surgery is an artificial one is just a misconception.

2. The new innovations in plastic surgery techniques began during World War. As the number of injured people was enormous, the surgeons were forced to improvise. This has led to new innovations and development of surgery techniques.

3.  In ancient Rome, plastic surgery started as a means to remove scars. People in Rome were afraid of scars on their back as it was considered shameful and depicted that a man had turned his back during the war. – Hence, they would let their scars removed through ancient plastic surgery techniques.

4. The first Breast augumentation was performed in Germany to a singer who had a growth in her breast removed. Luckily, she had a fatty growth, lipoma on her back, which was removed and transplanted to her breast. 

5.  The first plastic surgery on the Nose was performed in ancient India in 600 B.C. Skin from other parts of the body, mainly the cheek or forehead, was removed and used for reshaping of the nose. Wooden tubes were inserted in the nostrils for air passage during the healing process. 

6. The modern liposuction technique using blunt cannulas for fat removal was developed in France in the year 1977 by Dr. Yves-Gerard Illouz.  He performed this surgery for the first time on a woman who had a lipoma or fat growth on her back. – This surgery created history as the fat was removed without any scars on the back of the woman. 

7.  A bill stating that the cost of plastic surgeries to be covered under insurance policies was put forward for the first time by the US president Bill Clinton. The law also covered breast augmentation for achieving symmetry between opposite breasts.  This was a strong move for the relief of both the plastic surgeons and their patients. 

8. The Britishers started using plastic surgery techniques in the 17th century, when they saw an Indian mason repair the nose of a British driver. They adopted the ancient surgery procedure and made some advancements in it. Since then, plastic surgeries have been performed in almost all of Europe. 

9.  The Egyptians used to perform surgical alterations on their dead bodies and not on the living ones. They used to insert small bones and a handful of seeds into the nose of the dead with a view of recognizing them in their afterlife. The Mummys used to be stuffed with bandages in a similar manner as the modern day practices. 

10. Nose reshaping and breast augmentation are the two most famous plastic surgeries performed all over the world. 91% of the people involved in plastic surgeries include women and men account for only 9 % of it. The 15th century Italian surgeon, Gaspare Tagliacozzi is considered to be the father of modern day plastic surgery. 

12 Shocking Facts About Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery involves any procedure that shapes and molds a person’s body to make it look different than it originally did. Some of the most common procedures are rhinoplasty, which involves changing the size or shape of the nose, and rhytidectomy, also known as a facelift. Of course, there are plenty of other procedures, just like there are plenty of celebrities who have cosmetically altered themselves. However, more and more “regular” people are deciding to get plastic surgery, as well. Since the trend is becoming more popular, the days of plastic surgery being frowned upon are quickly coming to an end.

With any surgery, there can be complications and that is enough to scare anyone away. Whenever someone agrees to have their body tampered with, there are always risks. Regardless of whether you’re an avid fan of plastic surgery or if you’d never dream of altering your beautiful body, here are some facts about plastic surgery that will shock you:

12. There’s A Cara Delevingne Eyebrow Transplant
11. People Use Plastic Surgery To Look Like Celebs
10. Plastic Surgery Was Originally Done On The Deceased
9. Plastic Surgery Used To Be Considered A Sin
8. A Person’s Face Shape Affects How Others View Them
7. Plastic Surgery Used To Be Preformed In Barbershops
6. Social Media Is Causing A Rise In Plastic Surgery
5. 6-15% Of Patients Seeking Cosmetic Surgery Have BDD
4. Plastic Surgery Is Evolving
3. There Are More Procedures Than You’d Think
2. There Are Plastic Surgery Fashion Shows
1. Abdominal Etching Is Big In Poland

More Men Are Becoming Interested In Plastic Surgery

According to the Huffington Post, 91% of plastic surgery patients are women and only 9% are men. However, the number of male patients has increased by 45% since the year 2000. That means, in this day and age, men are placing more importance on their appearance. But, even though both genders show interest in cosmetic surgery, the types of procedures they are having done do differ. While the majority of women are interested in breast implants and rhinoplasty, men are more interested in liposuction, eyelid surgery, treatment for male breasts, and treatment for protruding ears.