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Plastics
Reconstructing Lives
Crises, calamity, and the crucial role of Kiwi innovation: leading the world in the development of plastic surgery through the 20th Century.
The crucial role of Kiwi innovation
Against a backdrop of enormous human calamity on an international scale, a small island nation at the bottom of the world played a crucial role in the development of an innovative form of service surgery. During the twentieth century and particularly the first decades of World War I and World War II, New Zealand produced a disproportionately large number of itinerant young surgeons, occupying a key place as a world leader in the advancement of the new surgical specialty of plastic and reconstructive surgery. Gathered together initially in London and Glasgow, then further afield, a group of New Zealanders responded with innovation to the crises presented by the atrocities of war.
Literally reconstructing lives and addressing the horrific injuries and bodily trauma resulting from the horrors of the world wars, a team of Kiwis made huge strides in plastic surgery and developed world-leading techniques, some of which are still in use today. From the terrible facial injuries of trench warfare in WWI, to the burns resulting from fuel explosions and battle injuries in WWII, groundbreaking leaders had a vision to bring a measure of healing and dignity to the lives of individuals caught up in an ongoing tragedy on an unprecedented scale. Highly intelligent with enquiring minds, they had the ability to innovate and develop or improve surgical techniques to treat a myriad of different injuries.
Surgeons and nurses returned to New Zealand, bringing the considerable skills and experience home with them. Establishing centres for plastic surgery in New Zealand, they continued to innovatively lead this field internationally from a remote corner of the world through the twentieth century. Teaching young surgical trainees, they shared their knowledge with the next generation of plastic surgeons.
What is plastic surgery?
Plastic surgery is concerned with the reconstruction of facial and body tissue defects due to congenital and acquired disorders. It aims to restore and improve structure, function, and appearance and improve the patient’s quality of life.
The principles of plastic surgery focus on replacing like tissue with like tissue, healing by minimising tissue trauma and preserving vascularity. Cranio-facial surgery, microsurgery, burn surgery, breast surgery, aesthetic surgery, and hand surgery are now recognised subspecialties.
The word plastic derives from the Greek πλαστικός (plastikos) meaning "capable of being shaped or moulded" and, in turn, from πλαστός (plastos) meaning "moulded".
The origins of the word ‘Plastic’
The word plastic derives from the Greek πλαστικός (plastikos) meaning "capable of being shaped or moulded" and, in turn, from πλαστός (plastos) meaning "moulded". The term Plastic was first applied to this surgical specialty two hundred years ago, with the publication of Karl Ferdinand von Graefe’s book, “Rhinoplastik” (“Rhinoplasty”) in 1818 and its Latin version “Rhinoplastice”. It described groundbreaking Italian, Indian and German methods of nasal reconstruction. This brought the word “plastic” to the naming of reconstructive surgical procedures, which eventually led German surgeon and ophthalmologist Eduard Zeis to write on the specialty of plastic surgery (“Plastische Chirurgie”) in 1838. The foreword to this book was written by famous German Surgeon Johann Friedrich Dieffenbach.
New Zealand’s contribution to plastic surgery
For a country of New Zealand’s size, Aotearoa has made a remarkable contribution to the development of plastic surgery. Surgeons Sir Harold Gillies, Sir Archibald McIndoe, Sir William Manchester, Rainsford Mowlem and Henry Pickerell were all highly notable surgeons during World Wars I and II, and in the years that followed. They developed many important surgical techniques, established units for plastic surgery, and made crucial discoveries with lasting impacts - with many of these still in use today.
Find out more about the history of plastic surgery.
Earle Brown Earle Brown MB.ChB. FRACS (Plastic Surgery) FRCS (General Surgery) graduated from Otago University in 1960. His plastic surgery training was at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland under the tutelage of Sir William Manchester and at Canniesburn Hospital in Glasgow. He was a staff member of the Plastic Surgical Unit at Middlemore Hospital from 1970 to 2005.
