Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is often thought of as something for the rich and famous to make them look younger and certainly many Hollywood actors and actresses are said to have had plastic surgery. But that's not the only use for plastic surgery. Plastic surgery has helped countless normal people who have been disfigured due to car accidents, fires, or other traumatic events. So plastic surgery, also known as cosmetic surgery, is not just for rich old people trying to find the fountain of youth.

Plastic surgery in the US has its roots during World War I when it was developed to repair some of the many injuries sustained during the war. Tissue or skin grafts were used along with silicone or other artificial materials were used to restore a natural youthful like to soldiers who seemed to have suffered injuries that would leave lifelong deformities.

Plastic surgery also came to be used to repair scars that could be left from sever burns or from removing large masses of cancerous skin cells. Another early use of skin cancer was as a way to reconstruct breast tissue after a mastectomy. Plastic surgery not only repairs disfigurement but can restore the elasticity and function of destroyed or damaged skin tissues.

It could be said that plastic surgery is for medical purposes whereas cosmetic surgery is not really necessary but more done for reasons relating to vanity. When plastic surgery is performed on a perfectly normal nose because someone isn't satisfied with what Mother Nature gave him or her that would be considered more cosmetic than plastic surgery. Another example is a face lift in which the skin is lifted to eliminate wrinkles.

Plastic surgery did not originate in the US. Way back in 800 B.C., there are records of skin grafts in India. Also during the Renaissance, the art of suture was developed and the way it is described with regard to the techniques and tools used sounds much like today's plastic surgery. 19th century advancements in plastic surgery benefited from better tools and made procedures much less painful. The Catholic Church was strongly opposed to plastic surgery which comes as no surprise since it opposed scientific advancements in general.

By the twentieth century with two world wars and many serious deformations suffered by soldiers in battle, the stigma of plastic surgery was finally removed and thanks the amazing results it produced; plastic surgery was finally gained a place of respect within the medical community.

As the art and science of plastic surgery has advanced in recent years, it is still used to help individuals with serious deformities but it is thought of more in terms of surgery for the stars with all the nose jobs, face lifts, and breast augmentations done around the world. It just goes to show you, if you want some plastic surgery done and have some money, it won't be difficult to find a plastic surgeon willing to cut you up and make you look more physically appealing.