The Pioneer of Plastic Surgery – ‘Sushruta’

Abstract

Sushruta, one of the earliest surgeon of the recorded history (600 B.C.) is believed to be the first person to describe plastic surgery. Sushruta, who lived nearly 150 years before Hippocrates, has vividly described the basic principles of plastic surgery in his famous ancient treatise ‘Sushruta samhita'. Sushruta samhita is the oldest authentic text-book of Shalya–tantra describing the Re-constructive plastic surgical operations. Numerous re-constructive surgical techniques and some exclusive cosmetic procedures have been narrated besides other surgical maneuvers by Sushruta. This paper presents a historical window into various contributions of Sushruta towards plastic surgery and allied fields described in ‘Sushruta samhita’ around 1000 B.C.