Reiew: John Orlando Doe (1845-1915)

Birth of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

In 1887, the first nose correction was conducted in New York by cuttings in the vestibule of the nose, thus without external scars. The pioneer was called John Orlando Roe. He writes:

"If the deformity of the nose is found to be associated with a local disturbance inside the nose, obstructing the passages, we should invariably remove or correct this local condition, whether it be deviation or thickening of the septum, enlargement of the turbinates, a polyp or other growths, or even adenoids and large tonsils. To preserve perfect nasal respiration is of the utmost necessity, not only to the health and comfort of the patient, but to the satisfactory correction of the nasal deformity.

While symmetrical relations to the different portions of the nose to one ano-ther are of the greatest importance, the symmetrical relation as to the size and shape of the nose to the general contour of the face must also be carefully considered, in order to approach the ideal from an artistic point of view.

We are able to relieve patients of a condition which would remain a lifelong mark of disfigurement, constantly observed, forming a never ceasing source of embarrassment and mental distress to themselves, amounting, in many cases, to a positive torture, as well as often causing them to be objects of greater or less aversion to others."

Even 115 years on, this statement has not lost its relevance. Jacques Joseph and Aufricht, Jewish emigrés from Nazi-Germany, continued to make "closed" nose corrections popular the United States. Nonetheless, the original "midwife" of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery remains John Orlando Roe!

Closed Nose Correction - the most frequent aesthetic surgery of the XX Century