Saturday, October 25, 2008

Cosmetic Surgery: From India With Love

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.

Some of the earliest documented plastic surgery dates to 2000 BC; these were typically performed to alleviate birth defects or injuries received in battle. Plastic surgery would be employed in the case of someone having lost an ear or nose or for other facial disfigurements. There was no anesthetic available at this time, so obviously this was not something undertaken lightly. There were no tummy tucks or facelifts done over the weekend don a whim.

The earliest historical records which we find pertaining to plastic surgery hail from India, where it had been practiced for millennia. British colonists were introduced to the procedure and their surgeons studied with Indian physicians. Dr. Joseph Constantine Carpue was one such surgeon, studying plastic surgery in India for two decades, eventually bringing the knowledge he had gained back to the west. Dr. Carpue performed the first documented plastic surgery in the western world in 1815. Sr. John Peter Mettauer brought plastic surgery to the United States shortly thereafter, performing the first plastic surgery in the United States in 1827 with his own custom surgical instruments.

Since that time, plastic surgery has evolved into a very common set of procedures. With the introduction of anesthesia and other drugs, plastic surgery is now considered routine. You can check in for a few hours and check out with a new body. Some of the most common procedures are liposuction, dermabrasion, lip injections, breast implants, and laser surgery. Anyone who wants to get rid of fat, stretch marks, sagging, or even hair can undergo one of several available procedures. Even though it is elective surgery, there are still risks involved. Before you undergo any procedure, be sure to check with a licensed doctor in the field of plastic surgery. They can help you determine what is the best procedure for you and if a procedure should be undergone.

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. - 15252

About the Author: