Topics covered in this article: Ancient Egyptian nasal reconstruction, the link between video chat and plastic surgery, breast augmentation and aesthetic procedures, the world of e-sports, and a dictator on the operating table.
The First Nasal Reconstruction
The earliest written record of a plastic surgery procedure dates back to the Ancient Egyptian Empire (around 800 BC). It is almost intuitive that nasal reconstruction was the first medical intervention of this kind in antiquity. However, according to some theories, these procedures were only performed after the person’s death to ensure they appeared a bit more handsome in the afterlife.
The Reason Behind the Growth
In the United States, the number of cheekbone implant surgeries increases by 6,000 to 8,000 patients every year. For men over the age of 40, jawline-related procedures are the most popular and continue to show an upward trend. Surprisingly, according to a survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, this growing number of interventions is partly linked to the frequent use of video chat.
The Chest Above All
It is likely easy to guess which plastic surgery procedure is most frequently requested by women. Most people would immediately think of breast augmentation and contouring, or wrinkle treatments among the less invasive procedures. However, few realize that male breast contouring and surgery are also becoming increasingly common—in fact, they are nearly the most frequent interventions for men. A man’s chest is just as important to women as vice versa; while women enjoy resting their heads on a man's chest, the aesthetic isn't always naturally inviting.
The Most Feared Non-South Korean E-sports Player
In the world of StarCraft competitions, it is quite rare for someone other than a South Korean to win the world championship, and it is equally unusual for the world's top players to be collectively terrified of a single individual. The fact that this professional e-sports player is also a woman is even more extraordinary. Those familiar with the e-sports scene have likely already guessed we are talking about Scarlett (Sasha Hostyn). To be precise, Scarlett was not always a woman; she underwent a full gender transition. Following a series of plastic surgeries and hormone treatments, she returned to the elite ranks as the premier professional StarCraft II player. Beyond changing her gender, she also changed her "race," switching from a Protoss player to a Zerg. These transformations certainly brought her success, as she earned over $250,000 from her gaming in 2018.
Muammar Gaddafi’s Highly Unusual Surgery
By the 1990s, positive articles about the former Libyan Prime Minister were becoming scarce. One such rare piece discussed his plastic surgery. While the procedure itself was less remarkable, the manner in which it was conducted was quite peculiar. He refused to undergo general anesthesia and even insisted on maintaining his alertness by performing an everyday activity: eating. The anti-Western politician famously ate a hamburger during his surgery, which, let’s be honest, was ridiculous for several reasons.
