Plastic Surgery is one of only 22 specialties recognized by the medical profession. There are very few doctors who do not know about it. This question will be asked to me by some new patients at the consultation …’Tell me now where the material goes ‘…or …’Will the plastic infected during the operation? It is possible that there are still people who believe that the term “plastic” in Plastic Surgery refers to a specific material. They also think that plastic surgeries involve inserting plastic materials, read next page.

Plastic Surgery is a relatively new field, so the plastic materials and Plastic Surgery are both developing at the same time. But there’s no link direct between the two. It wasn’t given its name simply because the specialty used plastic materials. Plastic Surgery’s name is taken from the Greek ‘plastikos. This means to give shape to, to mold or to mold. Plastic Surgeons shape and cut tissues, giving them recognizable shapes for both reconstructive surgery or cosmetic changes. Plastic Surgery formalized itself in 1931 by forming the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. It was later shortened into the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Johns Hopkins established its first residency program for plastic surgeons in Baltimore several years before, in 1924. Board certification began formalizing in 1937. This was a major step in raising the standards in the specialty.

Plastic Surgery developed about the same times as plastics. Bakelite, which was a popular product in Britain during the early 1900s and became a thermosetting polymer in the late 1800s, is one of the oldest thermosetting products. DuPont popularized polyamide, or nylon 66 in the United States in 1930 with the introduction of its material. There were many new plastics introduced, including polystyrene polymethylmethacrylate. (acrylic). During World War II these materials, including aircraft canopies, radar units and other plastic components became popular and essential. Plastic Surgery is also similar to plastic materials in that both of their development were driven by WWI and WWII. Plastic Surgery, as well as the use of plastics in personal protection during wartime (WWII), and to treat the injuries caused by combat (WWII) were both influenced by military conflicts.

As a final note, both pre-WWII countries were similarly united in their efforts to combat a rising problem during the 1930s…motor vehicles accidents. In the 1930s, as automobiles became more popular, car accidents and injuries from broken glass windshields also increased. In the past, it was most commonly severe facial lacerations that were caused by windshields. In the early 1990s, plastic surgeons raised concerns about this issue and DuPont, among others, was inspired to produce shatterproof glasses.