Lessons from the world's first plastic surgeon

Judging from some of the ads I see, you would have to conclude that plastic surgery was a recent invention, with any number of people taking full credit. But while it may be true that plastic surgery as we know it is less than a century old, its roots go back more than two millennia. While I was in India last week, I noticed that there was an exhibit at the National Science Center Museum highlighting an Indian physician and surgeon from the 5th century B.C. named Susruta, who preceded Hippocrates by hundreds of years. He was a teacher, healer, inventor of many surgical instruments, and developed a cheek flap procedure for nose reconstruction, without a doubt the world’s first plastic surgery. A variation of that is still used today.
So what does this mean for plastic surgeons today? For one, it is humbling to think of the long heritage of innovation and service that we inherit. It reminds us that we should try to create a lasting contribution to the specialty, and treasure the opportunity to make a lasting difference in our patients’ lives. Particularly during the holiday season, we need to remember that our talents are a gift. So while the poverty in India is indeed overwhelming, I am richer for the experience of having gone.