Evolution is not just “Darwinian” in nature. The reality is that the only constant is change.
The Egyptians record reconstructive surgery as early as 600BC. Tagliacozzi in 1597 performed the first nose job to combat syphilis in the 13th century. Plastic surgery, as we know it, was born out of the reconstruction of devastating World War I injuries. All cosmetic surgeries are fundamentally rooted in these early “cures” for disfiguring war injuries.
We often forget or overlook the life changing affect of plastic surgery for reconstructive reasons. The improvements achieved through limb reattachment, cleft palate repair, breast cancer reconstruction as well as craniofacial surgeries are truly the backbone of modern 21st century cosmetic surgery. In this modern day, the age of gossip magazines and celebrity sightings, the desire to look fresh, taut and beautiful seems to overshadow the incredible journey of some of our most inspirational reconstructive patients.
We need not forget our roots and just why we started in this business in the first place. Here is a follow up story from one of the few people worldwide to have undergone a full face transplant. See what he has to say five years after his surgery about adjusting to a new life and just how he is helping the future of plastic surgery. 
