Rhinoplasty - A History of Creativity

The study of nose is as old as the human civilization. Nose, a midline structure has acquired a unique status socially, sexually, aesthetically and important of its physiology not only as an organ but also as a special sense organ. Social crimes such as adultery and sex offenders were punished by amputation of nose. Reconstruction of the amputed nose by using cheek and forehead flaps to form new nose was the most significant contribution in ancient surgery in rhinology. The major contribution for the reconstruction originated in India by Sushruta in 600 B.C. He described the technique of total reconstruction, which is still being practiced today as Indian Rhinoplasty. The technique was further practiced and refined to modern plastic surgery in Europe and United States in 18th century. Other contribution was from Greek physicians, Hippocrate, and Galan, and at the birth of the Christanity, Celsus wrote eight books of medical encyclopaedia, which described various conditions affecting nose.