The roots of ancient Indian surgery go back to more than 4000 years
ago. Sushruta, one of the earliest surgeons of recorded history (600
B.C.) is believed to be the first individual to describe Rhinoplasty.
The detailed description of the Rhinoplasty operation by Sushruta is
amazingly meticulous, comprehensive and relevant today.
The historical evidences suggest that plastic surgery originated in
India more than two millennia ago and the oldest plastic surgery
operation probably relate to nasal reconstruction. Sushruta, an ancient
Indian surgeon in 600 BC. is believed to be the first individual to
describe Rhinoplasty.
Sushruta (also known as the “Father of Indian surgery” and “Father
of Indian plastic surgery)” authored famous ancient encyclopaedic
treatise Sushruta Samhita’ (Sushruta’s compendium) and vividly
described the technique of Rhinoplasty. ‘Sushruta Samhita’ is onsidered
to be the most advanced compilation of surgical practices prevalent in
India around two thousand millennia ago.
In‘Sushruta Samhita’, Sushruta emphasized all the basic principles of
plastic surgery and vividly described numerous operations in various
fields of surgery with significant contributions to Plastic Surgery.
The notable contributions in Plastic Surgery are technique of pedicle
flap, repair of ear lobe defects ,repair of traumatic and congenital
clefts of the lip, classification of burns ,description of sharp (20
types) and blunt (101 types)instruments, practice of mock
operations, cadveric dissection ,use of wine to dull the pain of
surgical incisions, code of ethics; however the Rhinoplasty remains the
greatest highlight of Sushruta’s surgery.
The nose in Indian society has remained a symbol of dignity and
respect throughout antiquity. In ancient times, amputation of nose was
frequently done as a punishment for criminals, war prisoners or people
indulged in adultery. The practice of Rhinoplasty slowly started as a
result of the need to reconstruct the external nose and later developed
to the full fledged science.
Sushruta is considered as the innovator of the Rhinoplasty technique
practised since 600 B.C.The detailed description of the Rhinoplasty
operation in the Sushruta Samhita is amazingly precise and
comprehensive.
The English translation of Sushruta’s original Sanskrit description of the method is as follows : -
“The portion of the nose to be covered should be first measured with a
leaf. Then a piece of skin of the required size should be dissected
from the living skin of the cheek, and turned back to cover the nose,
keeping a small pedicle attached to the cheek. The part of the nose to
which the skin is to be attached should be made raw by cutting the nasal
stump with a knife. The physician then should place the skin on the
nose and stitch the two parts swiftly, keeping the skin properly
elevated by inserting two tubes of eranda (the castor-oil plant) in the
position of the nostrils, so that the new nose gets proper shape. The
skin thus properly adjusted, it should then be sprinkled with a powder
of liquorice, red sandal-wood and barberry plant. Finally, it should be
covered with cotton, and clean sesame oil should be constantly applied.
When the skin has united and granulated, if the nose is too short or too
long, the middle of the flap should be divided and an endeavor made to
enlarge or shorten it.”
The Sanskrit text of ‘Sushruta Samhita’ was later translated in
Arabic by Ibn Abi Usaybia (1203-1269 AD). As the historical pages
started opening up, the knowledge of Rhinoplasty spread from India to
Arabia and Persia and from there to Egypt. However, it took centuries
for the principles and the technique of Rhinoplasty to travel to Europe
and other parts of the world. In the 15th century, Gaspare Tagliacozzi
from Italy documented similar technique of nasal reconstruction. He
successfully reconstructed the nose by using the skin of the upper arm.
The principle of Italian procedure was precisely the same as of the
pedicle flap which was described two millennia ahead by Sushruta.
Ackernecht aptly observed “There is little doubt that plastic surgery in
Europe which flourished in medieval Italy is a direct descendant of
classical Indian surgery”.
The classical cheek flap Rhinoplasty of Sushruta was later modified
by using a rotation flap from the adjacent forehead, The Traditional
Indian Method of Rhinoplasty. This technique was kept a secret for
centuries in India, and practiced by Marathas of Kumar near Poona,
certain Nepali families and Kanghairas of Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) .
The resurgence of Indian method began in the 1700s when British
surgeons working for the East India Company saw the work done by Indian
surgeons. During Mysore War of 1792 between Tipu Sultan and the British.
Cowasjee, a cart-driver with the British and four other native sepoys
were captured by the Sultan’s soldiers. Their noses and a hand each were
cut off by the Mysore army. After a year without a nose, he and four of
his colleagues submitted themselves to treatment by a man who had a
reputation for nose repairs. The operations were witnessed by Thomas
Cruso and James Findlay ,surgeons at the British Residency in Poona.
They appear to have prepared a description of what they saw and diagrams
of the procedure. The technique used for Rhinoplasty was a modification
of the ancient Rhinoplasty described by Sushruta. Sushruta’s version
has the skin flap being taken from the cheek; Cowasjee’s was taken from
the forehead. A photo feature on the sensational surgery was published
in the Madras Gazette. Subsequently, the details and an engraving from
the painting were reproduce The operation was described as follows:
“A thin plate of wax is fitted to the stump of the nose so as to make
a nose of good appearance; it is then flattened and laid on the
forehead. A line is drawn around the wax, which is then of no further
use, and the operator then dissects off as much skin as it had covered,
living undivided a small slip between the eyes. This slip preserves the
blood circulation till a union has taken place between the new and the
old parts. The cicatrix of the stump of the nose is next paired off, and
immediately behind the new part, an incision is made through the skin
which passes around both alae, and goes along the upper lip. The skin,
now brought down from the forehead and being twisted half around, is
inserted into this incision, so that a nose is formed with a double hold
above and with its alae and septum below fixed in the incision. A
little Terra Japonica (pale-catechu) is softened with water and being
spread on slips of cloth, five or six of these are placed over each
other to secure the joining. No other dressing but this cement is used
for four days. It is then removed, and cloths dipped in ghee are
applied. The connecting slip of skin is divided about the twentieth day,
when a little more dissection is necessary to improve the appearance of
the new nose. For five or six days after the operation, the patient is
made to lie on his back, and on the tenth day, bits of soft cloth are
put into the nostrils to keep them sufficiently open. This operation is
always successful. The artificial nose is secured and looks nearly as
well as the natural nose, nor is the scar on the forehead very
observable after a length of time.”
This story encouraged Carpue, an English surgeon, to study the
details and soon he recognized the immense potential of the operation.
Carpue successfully performed the first Rhinoplasty operation (37
minutes) on October 23, 1814 followed by a second successful operation7.
Subsequently, through the publication of these successful operations by
Carpue in 1816, the use of Indian technique gained popularity amongst
British and European surgeons. By 1897, at least 152 rhinoplasties had
been performed in Europe.
One of the earliest European descriptions of Indian rhinoplasty is as follows :
The surgeons belonging to the country cut the skin of the forehead
above the eyebrows, and made it fall down over the wounds on the nose.
Then, giving a twist so that a live flesh might meet the other live
surface, by healing applications, they fashioned for them other
imperfect noses. There is left above, between the eyebrows, a small
hole, caused by the twist given to the skin to bring the two live
surfaces together. In a short time the wounds heal up, some obstacle
being placed beneath to allow of respiration. I saw many persons with
such noses, and they were not so disfigured as they would have been
without any nose at all.” (Storia do Mogor 1653-1708 AD).
These Rhinoplasties were widely appreciated as the ‘Indian Nose’ and
generated tremendous interest in the medical fraternity paving way for
corrective Rhinoplasty in Europe , United states and other part of the
world. Later, with the dissemination and refinement of the technique it
became an established procedure worldwide. Though today the technique
has received few modifications but the basic principles laid down by
Sushruta still remains true. Today, the world acknowledges India as the
cradle of Rhinoplasty and the contemporary use of the “Indian flap” for
nasal reconstruction testifies to its practicality and success for more
than 2500 years.
