2022 Reprint of the 1936 First Edition. Profusely illustrated with photos of patients before and after surgery, as well as historical illustrations of plastic surgery from the past. Exact facsimile of the original edition and not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. The curing of facial defects by surgical methods and the rebuilding of the human face nearer to the heart's desire, is not, Dr. Maltz explains, a recent discovery of surgical science, but was practiced with skill and success by Hindu surgeons more than 2,000 years ago. Maltz describes their methods and follows the history of facial surgery down through the ages, briefly noting developments and famous cases, up to 1936, the date of publication. The bulk of the book is, of course, devoted to the great expansion of knowledge and practice in the field inspired by the ghastly and vastly increased need of its service caused by the First World War and to later and wider experimentation and practice. In all this the author has taken an important part and writes of it with high authority. He has devised new instruments and techniques for use in plastic surgery and has demonstrated them before classes with students and colleagues.
Maltz was one of the first to bring to popular attention of marvels of plastic surgery. The book is written for the lay reader. The book also provides insight into the psychological consequences of plastic surgery. Working from an Adlerian perspective, it considers the changes to self esteem and well being that plastic surgery can provide to the right candidate.