2015 marks the 100 year anniversary of plastic surgery, a phenomenon that has spread across the world and has changed the lives of so many and for so many different reasons. Harold Gillies, an ear, nose and throat surgeon based in London, volunteered to serve in the Red Cross in Belgium on the battlefields of Flanders, during World War I. Little did he know that he had kick-started a sensation that would soon become the norm worldwide.
The term ‘plastic surgery’ was coined back in the 1830s, coming from the Greek word ‘plastikos’ meaning to be moulded. The concept of grafting skin from one part of the body to another in order to help it heal has been around for centuries, but the birth of modern plastic surgery can be pinned to the year 1915, with the help of Harold Gillies.
The beginning of plastic surgery
Gillies developed a technique known as the tube pedicle, which allowed living tissue and blood supply from a healthy part of the body’s skin to help heal a wounded part. It was bizarre but it worked. Gillies treated around 2,000 soldiers using this method during the Battle of the Somme. Back in the UK, his technique was developed by performing the procedure around 11,000 times on 5,000 men.
Harold Gillies inspired many others in following his line of work; however Archibald McIndoe, a former pupil, became more concerned with how people looked after surgery and the potential psychological impact of having a disfigured face. Another student of Gillies’ work was Ivo Pitanguy, who was hailed as the Michelangelo of the scalpel and became somewhat of a celebrity in his home country of Brazil. Pitanguy learned his trade in the 40s and 50s and popularised the idea of cosmetic surgery not just for those who had a lot of money. In 2014, over 1.3 million had work done in Brazil alone.
Trends from around the world
In 2014, 20 million procedures were carried out worldwide, with the United States holding the top spot for the total number of surgical procedures performed. In fact, the top 5 countries which performed the most surgical and non-surgical procedures were:
- United States
- Brazil
- Japan
- South Korea
- Mexico
Geography and even culture can be a huge factor in the type of cosmetic or plastic surgery that is carried out, with different trends occurring in different parts of the world. The United States is big for breast augmentation surgery, with it being the most common procedure.
South Korea
South Korea has the highest number of plastic surgery procedures per capita, proving that plastic surgery is considered socially acceptable. Some of the most common procedures in this country include eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) to create wider and more Westernised eyes. It is almost a culture norm for fathers to give their daughters a face lift as a graduation present, not to counteract anti-ageing, but to improve their chances in life.
Brazil
Brazil is largely associated with buttock augmentation surgery. Thanks to celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Nicki Minaj, the desire to have a larger rear has increased. Out of the 319,960 buttock augmentation procedures that were performed in 2013, 63,925 were performed by Brazilian surgeons.
Iran
In 2014, Iran had the highest number of rhinoplasty procedures per capita in the world. The reasons behind this vary from improving self-esteem to marriageability, with girls as young as 14 undergoing the surgery to change their look. Whether this is a shift towards a more Westernised culture, or simply to change the shape of their nose, around 200,000 rhinoplasties are performed every year in Iran.
Trends will continue to change as new technology and developments become readily available and as attitudes change towards cosmetic surgery over the years. For example, in the UK we are now seeing a trend of more subtle tweaks to one’s appearance as opposed to any extreme changes, including Botox and smaller breast implants.
Clinics that offer a range of treatments, such as Cosmetic Surgery Partners, can offer a professional service and can give you help and advice when it comes to cosmetic or plastic surgery.