The Plastic Surgery Team

The critical insight of Harold Gillies in setting up a specialist unit for facial injuries was that this new endeavour required the co-operative effort of a range of specialists.

They needed to be co-located, working and learning together towards a common goal. In this way, the quality and effectiveness of new reconstructive techniques would advance more quickly than if they all worked in isolation. Knowledge and training would also be disseminated more effectively. 

The new plastic surgeons worked alongside, dentists, anaesthetists, radiologists, illustrators, photographers, dental technicians, nursing staff and a new cadre working in rehabilitation. Today, reconstructive plastic and aesthetic surgery is dependent upon this now extended multi-disciplinary team.

The history of the interaction and development of these allied disciplines with plastic surgery is explored in this gallery.