Plastic surgery development

Who was Harold Gillies?

A doctor from New Zealand who was a surgeon in the British Army during WWI

What did Gillies do?

Set up wards in London to treat patients with facial injuries by pioneering skin grafting techniques

What were Gillies’ skin grafting techniques?

Included using a pedicle, which was a patch of skin on the face which he could later use to attach to another part of the face

What was significant about Gillies’ work?

He was one of the first surgeons to consider a soldier’s appearance during the treatment of their wounds

How many men did Gillies treat?

Over 500 by 1921

Who was Francis Derwent Wood?

A sculptor who worked to treat injured soldiers by designing and crafting lifelike facial masks

What is the benefit of plastic surgery?

It helps soldiers regain confidence in order to support their mental health and aid their reintegration into normal life

Who was Archibald McIndoe?

Born in New Zealand (and cousin to Harold Gillies), he worked with soldiers who had suffered from severe facial injuries, especially burns

What did McIndoe’s patients form?

A social group called the Guinea Pig Club which organised social events to help recovering soldiers adapt to civilian life and learn to live with their injuries