The history of plastic surgery dates to the 1900's, but plastic surgery is far older than that - Indian physicians used skin grafts for reconstructive work as early as the 8th Century BC!

Sushruta described rhinoplasty and otoplasty in his tome 'Sushruta Samhita', along with over 120 surgical instruments and 300 surgical procedures. This understanding of plastic surgery existed in India up to the late 18th century.

Romans performed simple techniques such as repairing damaged ears from around the 1st Century BC. In mid-15th Century Europe, Heinrich von Pfolspeundt described a process "to make a new nose for one who lacks it entirely, and the dogs have devoured it" by removing skin from the back of the arm and suturing it in place.

Of course, it wasn't until the invention of anaesthesia around the turn of the 20th Century that such surgery became commonplace, as previously it involved masses of pain. Also, infection as a result of surgery was reduced after sterile technique and disinfectants were introduced. The invention and use of antibiotics beginning with sulfa drugs and penicillin was another step in making elective surgery possible.

The first plastic surgeon in the United States was Dr. John Peter Mettauer, who performed the first cleft palate operation in 1827 with instruments that he designed himself.

New Zealander Sir Harold Gillies is considered to be the father of modern plastic surgery - he developed many of the techniques still used today whilst caring for those who suffered facial injuries in World War I.

His former student and cousin, Archibald McIndoe, expanded upon his work during World War II by pioneering treatments for RAF aircrew suffering from severe burns. McIndoe's radical, experimental treatments, lead to the possibilities of plastic surgery being commonplace, and used for cosmetic rather than practical reasons.