A History of Plastic Surgery

This book covers the history of plastic surgery from the remarkable achievements of such ancient civilizations as India and Egypt up to the revolutionary techniques developed at the end of the Middle Age, the Renaissance and beyond. Coverage details how the knowledge of wound healing has changed and influenced plastic surgery, describes the development of various surgical reconstructive procedures and details the birth of Cosmetic Surgery.

From the reviews:

"This overview of plastic surgery is particularly focused on the development of surgical procedures, describing in detail the evolution of these procedures. The purpose is to demonstrate the growth of plastic surgery techniques. ... This book is clearly aimed at physicians and residents ... . The detail provided on the surgical procedures would be of interest to practitioners. Illustrations and text emphasize the procedures themselves ... ." (Patricia E. Gallagher, Doody's Review Service, November, 2007)

"...The volume’s 400 or so figures are testament to three millennia of piecing body parts together and reconstructing or correcting them for functional or cosmetic purposes. The authors have scrutinized rare ancient texts and drawings to gain insight into early medical practices, including the crucial adjuncts of anaesthesia, blood transfusion and treatment of infection, some of which survived for thousands of years..." (Nature, Vol. 450, December 2007)

"The text is set out clearly and methodically with numerous impressive color illustrations. The book gives ample evidence that plastic surgery is one of the oldest surgical specialties, with procedures that often transcend the anatomical boundaries that define and limit other specialties. ... Each chapter tells an absorbing story that is well illustrated with images ... . an accessible and informative book that will be referred to constantly by trainee and veteran plastic surgeons alike." (Iain S. Whitaker, New England Journal of Medicine, March, 2008)