ASPS History

Plastic Surgery and ASPS History

The ‘Plastic’ in plastic surgery is derived from the Greek word ‘palstikos’ which means to mould or give form. It refers to the way in which one can reshape the tissues of the body to restore form after deformity. Written evidences to such moulding go back more than four thousand years. 

Plastic surgery was probably first performed by Indian potters around 3000BC. Ritual amputation of the nose was the punishment dealt out to thieves and adulterers. The potters used a flap of tissue taken from the forehead to turn down over the nose defect, a technique still in use today. 

Physicians in India were using skin grafts for reconstructive surgery in 800 B.C. An Indian physician, Sushruta, (believed to be in between 600 and 400 B.C.) described in his Sanskrit text, Sushruta Samhita (Sushruta’s encyclopedia) methods of examination, diagnoses, treatments and procedures for reconstruction on nose and earlobes by using the skin from other parts. 

In the time of Christ, Celsus was using advancement flaps. By around the 1st century, Romans were repairing damaged ears. Surgeries were performed and some progress was being made. But there were grave risks of infection with the existing standards of hygiene and surgery meant a lot of pain. Anesthesia had not been developed yet. 

It was in the 19th and 20th century that plastic surgery became a specialty and made considerable scientific and medical advancement. It was then that an aesthetic approach was initiated. In the late 19th century anesthesia was introduced and gradually procedures became more common and comparatively less risky. During and after the First World War many soldiers required reconstructive surgery of serious head and facial injuries. Ironically, it was the War which thrust Plastic surgery on a path of speedy development and finesse.

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With a lot happening in the world of plastic surgery a need was felt for Organized Surgical Societies. The American Society was founded in 1931.In 1937 the board of Plastic Surgery in America was founded and in 1941 The American Association of Oral & Plastic Surgeons changed its name to The American Association of Plastic Surgeons. The British Association of Plastic Surgeons (BAPS) was founded in 1946. Around the same time several Societies and sections of Plastic Surgery were formed around the world. In 1955 was founded the International Confederation of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Stockholm. This premier Plastic Surgery Society meets every four years. 

In Australia and New Zealand, fulltime working in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery began after the Second World War. In 1956 the Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Royal Australasian College of Surgery was formed. It began with 21 members (17 from Australia and 4 from New Zealand). 

Later the Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery became the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery to fit in with the names of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons deals with educational matters. Overall supervision of selection and training of Plastic Surgeons in Australia and New Zealand rests entirely with the Division of Plastic Surgery through the Board of Plastic Surgery. 

In 1971 the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) was incorporated to deal with issue such as finance, business and policy. ASPS has a stringent membership criteria. All ASPS members have to be Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons or be eligible to take the Fellowship exam. For membership, names have to be proposed and nominated by fellow Plastic Surgeons. They are elected by the members of the Society at the Annual General meeting. 

ASPS members are bona fide Plastic Surgeons who are in full time plastic surgery practice. Along with ASPS, an Aesthetic Society was also formed which too consisted of bona fide plastic surgeons. Besides these there are some Hand Societies that admit members from orthopaedic and general surgery groups. 

Plastic surgery has come along way since its modest beginning in India. Today, modern plastic surgery requires highly specialised disciplines or skills which take years of training to acquire.  As every problem faced by the plastic surgeon is unique, a high level of training, skill and care is needed to achieve consistently good results. 

Modern plastic surgery comprises the following main areas:

• Cosmetic surgery
• Facial reconstruction due to injury, cancer or birth defects
• Surgery of the skin, including skin cancer surgery
• Breast reconstructive surgery
• Hand surgery
• Surgery for congenital (inborn) deformity
• Repair after injury to the face, skin, soft tissues or limbs
• Microsurgery
• Burns surgery

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