Saturday, October 25, 2008

From India With Love: Cosmetic Surgery

By Herbert Reich

Plastic surgery is a specialty in which doctors try to help people correct physical imperfections. The history of plastic surgery is a long and storied one. While it used to be done only under extreme circumstances, it is now done over the weekend on a whim. The impact of plastic surgery can be seen all over the world and has been undergone by millions of people.

There is documentation of plastic surgery procedures as far back as 2000 BC. In antiquity, plastic surgery was almost exclusively done to correct battle injuries or congenital defects, such as in the unfortunate event of a soldier having lost an ear in battle. Since anesthetic was unknown at the time, plastic surgery was not something done on a whim - the ancients were not dashing off to their plastic surgeons for a quick nip and tuck over the weekend.

Plastic surgery was first performed (as far as we know) in India, where it was eventually studied and adopted by British colonists. Dr. Joseph Constantine Carpue was one such surgeon. He lived in India for 20 years where he studied Indian plastic surgery techniques and took what he had learned with him back to the west. Dr. Carpue performed the western world's first known plastic surgery in 1815. The techniques of plastic surgery later came to the U.S., courtesy of Dr. John Peter Mettauer, who performed the first plastic surgery in the United States in 1827, using surgical instruments of his own design.

The techniques of plastic surgery have advanced greatly since 1827 and have become increasingly common. With anesthesia being universally in use, plastic surgery has in fact become commonplace. Common procedures include lip injections, breast implants, dermabrasion, liposuction and laser surgery. There are plastic surgery procedures which can remove stretch marks, sagging, excess fat or hair - patients have a lot of options open to them today. Before going in for any surgical procedure, speak with a licensed plastic surgeon; these professionals can tell you about your options and tell you whether or not a plastic surgery procedure is best for your situation.

The U.S. now leads the world in plastic surgery techniques. While the techniques were originally developed in Asia, it is the United States which now can boast of the most talented professionals in the field. Within the U.S., Chicago is especially known for its plastic surgeons. If you are considering having plastic surgery, Chicago should be the first city you explore; there are a number of experienced plastic surgeons in the city, including some of the nation's best known and most respected surgeons. - 15275

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