The “nose job” is not a gift of modern medicine. In fact, it stems mainly from the work of a physician from India in 800 BC. By the 1700’s, however, it had become more sophisticated and effective than the ancient methods.
Remarkably, the methods they used were adapted from the witnessing of the ancient Indian methods being performed. However, rather than using rolls from the castor-oil plant to form the nose, the procedure uses more technical advancements. Unfortunately, however, the procedure still involved taking skin from the face, leaving visible and significant scarring, rather than from somewhere else on the body.
The procedure was described by surgeons Thomas Cruso and James Findlay in the Madras Gazette and again in the Gentleman’s Magazine of London. They describe using wax to determine the amount of skin needed to shape a new nose. The wax is fitted over the area and shaped into a nose.
Then, the wax is laid flat on the forehead. The physician traces the wax plate and removes that much skin from the forehead. However, the skin is not completely detached.
Instead, the skin remains attached between the eyes, to preserve blood flow. The skin flap is then folded over and down to shape into a nose. The nose stump is sliced to allow an attachment. Then the surgeon attaches the sides and septum of the nose by stitching.
Finally, a cement of Terra Japonica is spread into thin sheets and 5 or 6 sheets are layered over the new nose. Four days later, this application is replaced with cloths dipped in ghee. 20 days into the hospitalization, the slip of skin left twisted is cut and placed smoothly against the forehead. Finally, soft cloth is placed into the nostrils to ensure proper openings.
