Cosmetics are the substances used to improve the appearance of the human body and they have been used as long as there has been a person to use them. The U.S Food and Drug Administration(FDA) defines cosmetics as “intended to be applied on the body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting the body’s structure or functions.
The cosmetics surgery facts can be traced back to the ancient civilizations in Rome, Greece, Egypt and other oriental cultures like the Chinese and the Indian Vedic culture. It is believed that Roman slaves who used to bathe the men and women in scents and perfumes first coined the term Cosmetae.
Cosmetics include skin care, hair care, finger nail, eye care and body care. Creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, nail polish, facial make-up, contact lenses, hair dyes, hair sprays, gels, deodorants, baby products, bath oil, bubble bath, bath salts, butters are all considered as cosmetics. There are many places that go over the different cosmetic surgery facts and here are some of them.
In ancient Egypt, Men and women used scented oils and ointments to clean and soften their skin and mask body odor. Henna was used to stain the hair and the nails, and Kohl was used as eyeliner, applied with a small stick. This was used in ancient Indian culture also as a cosmetic but it also had medicinal value and was believed to protect the eye, cool them and restore good eyesight. Oils and cream were used to protect the skin from harsh sun and the winds and keep it moist. Cosmetics were inherent to health and hygiene in ancient Egypt and they were proud of their cleanliness and looks.
The trade of precious oils, cosmetic powders and perfumes around the Mediterranean, were rampant in ancient Greece around the seventh century. Increases in commerce led to vast improvements in packaging to make them look attractive and increased sales. The Romans were the first to use the term Perfume. Per is “through” and Fumum is “smoke”, signifying the release of aromatic fumes by burning. They combined prayers with burning incense. The Indian vedic culture also believed that the gods were to be appeased through fire and aromas and the practice of offering everything, including aromatic herbs through the sacred fire was a ritual.
Distillation of essential oils and use of fragrance was advanced in Chinese culture as well. The Chinese upper class used fragrance lavishly as early as the seventh century continuing till the end of the Ming dynasty in the seventeenth century. Their articles of everyday use like paper, ink, clothing and homes were richly perfumed.
The women in ancient India used a mixture of turmeric, gram flour and husk mixed in milk or rose water in the place of soap. The gram flour and husk acted as a scrub and the Turmeric acted as germicidal and prevented the growth of unwanted body and facial hair. Powders of Sandal and other aromatic herbs were used to anoint the body to prevent perspiration and as perfume. The history of cosmetic surgery dates back to 5000years where a reference of rhinoplasty (correction of nasal bridge) has been given in Sushrutha samhita, a treatise of Ayurveda. For thousands of years people have sought to restore or correct the structure or deformity of the body through cosmetic surgery. Many different cosmetic surgery facts come up when we talk about history. Documented examples in ancient history would include the Egyptians, and the Romans who used simple surgery to repair war wounds like damaged ear lobes. Now, Cosmetic surgery has become a boon for the film stars and models and others. Other complicated surgeries like Rhinoplasty and cataract surgery were also performed.
Modern cosmetic surgery became common in the 19th century with the advent of anesthesia and sterile operating rooms. Surgeries wee still for reconstruction after mastectomies, cleft palates and the like. The use of surgery to look better without any obvious medical condition came later. Different from reconstructive surgery, elective cosmetic surgery was performed o an otherwise normal individual to match some ideal of beauty and proportion in the patients’ perception. The most common are liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, breast enhancements, and others.
Modern use of cosmetics and cosmetic surgery has become something of an obsession and in certain professions, a necessity in these modern times. Finally, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder and we may well keep this in mind.