The origins of modern plastic surgery.

Abstract

There is an old saying that if you think you have discovered something new then it is because you don't read the German literature and there is some truth in this. When Plastic Surgery is mentioned the usual reply is "Ah, Gillies" as though he was the fons et origo of Plastic and Reconstructive surgery. The fact is that there were many more pioneering plastic surgeons outside the British Empire, whose work preceded and even surpassed Gilles. In 1818, Karl Ferdinand von Gräefe published "Rhinoplastik" and coined the term plastic surgery (Plastische Chirurgie). Eduard Zeis, in 1838 published the textbook "Handbuch der plastischen Chirurgie" and established its meaning based on hundreds of references. Undoubtably, the first decades of the 20th century, especially the war between 1914 and 1918, were the genesis of most modern developments in plastic surgery and there were many more pioneering plastic surgeons outside the British Empire, whose work preceded, equalled and even surpassed Gillies, despite his admirable achievements.