Modern plastic surgery is amazing. Skilled surgeons can restore and reform breasts after cancer, transform noses and take years off a person’s look with a facelift. The techniques used to create these stunning transformations have been carefully honed and developed over hundreds (and in some cases thousands) of years. To fully appreciate modern plastic surgery, you have to understand its roots. Today, we’ll explore some of the history behind a few of our most popular plastic surgery procedures.
Breast Augmentation
One of the first breast augmentations was performed on a dog named Esmeralda. The dog received trial silicone implants which were removed after a couple weeks when she started to mess with the stitches. This was just the start of modern breast augmentation.
Today, saline and silicone are your primary options for breast augmentation, but it took a lot of trial and error to get to this point. Modern breast implants (similar to the ones we use today, but not as refined) were first developed in the early 1960s. Before that, implants were made from all sorts of surprising materials including glass balls, animal cartilage, polyester sponge, ground rubber and even wool.
Last year, breast augmentation was the most popular surgical cosmetic procedure and was performed more than 285,000 times in the U.S.
Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty is one of the oldest known cosmetic surgeries. There are written records of nose surgeries occurring as early as 2500 B.C. An ancient physician, Sushruta, developed a technique that is still used in today known as the forehead flap rhinoplasty. Many of his techniques were developed to help restore noses that were damaged or removed as punishment.
Today, both functional and cosmetic rhinoplasty are performed (often together). Dr. Velargo’s training and experience as a head and neck nasal surgeon makes him uniquely qualified to perform this highly specialized surgery. Rhinoplasty is one of the top five most popular cosmetic procedures each year and the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure for teens.
Liposuction
Since its introduction a few decades ago, liposuction has made dramatic strides in both safety and efficacy. Today’s liposuction techniques are much less invasive than early techniques resulting in less blood loss and less scarring. Innovations in tools and techniques allow for precise fat removal and body sculpting. The harvested fat can even be used in other areas of the body including for hand rejuvenation.
Modern plastic surgery owes its stunning results to those that came before us, pioneering many of the techniques that we use today.
