The History and Development of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

This video takes a fascinating look at the history of the specialty of plastic and reconstructive surgery, and how this history defines the profession today. Modern plastic surgery is often mis-represented as being focused on aesthetic surgery, beauty and appearance – but this is only a fraction of the truth.

The giants on the shoulders whom current plastic and reconstructive surgeons stand, developed a new branch of surgery to restore, reconstruct and rehabilitate tens of thousands of military personnel and civilians that were the cruel casualties of The Great War (1914-1918) and World War Two (1940-1945). The vision of early pioneers to establish training units saw the next generation then further develop the principles of reconstruction, and then go onto train another generation.

This video is presented by Dr Michael Klaassen FRACS and facilitated by Dr Julian Lofts FRACS, both of whom are 5th generation students of plastic surgery in the modern era (and coincidentally, both the grandsons of soldiers on the Western Front in WW1.