the world's first ever rhinoplasty operation.

This book which is called 'De Curtorum Chirurgia Per Insitionem' translated as The Surgery of Defects by Implantations was penned by Professore Gaspare Tagliacozzi from the very old University of Bologna in Italy. Unlike modern day nose jobs this operation was done in a different way with the patient nose being literally attached to skin on his arm around the bicep area with the idea being that after three weeks when the nose was fully attached to the arm it would be cut off in a shape that resembled a functioning nose.

The operation which was designed to repair noses that had been cut off in battle seems a bit far fetched but there is nothing to show that it didn't work. The book gives clear descriptions about the types of surgical instruments that the plastic surgeon used and the detail that Professor Tagliacozzi uses in his descriptions all of which are written in Latin leaves nothing wanting.

The book which also has details about operations involving the lips and ears is the only known to a few specialist collectors but because of its rarity and interest was expected to fetch a large amount of money. After this book was published no other books on plastic surgery appeared until the 18th Century and this may be because religious authority did not like the idea of doctors 'playing God' and changing people's appearances.

The book was purchased by a plastic surgeon who lobbies to find it extremely interesting reading [providing that he can speak Latin!]

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