Sushrutha is considered as the founding father of surgery.His period is usually placed between the period of 1200 BC - 600 BC.He lived ,taught ,and practiced in what presently corresponds to the city of Varanasi (Kashi ,Benares),and is remembered especially for his innovative method of rhinoplasty.If the history of science is traced back to its origin , it probably starts from an unmarked era of ancient time. Although the science of medicine and sugery has advanced by leaps and bounds today ,many techniques practiced today have still been derived from the practices of the ancient Indian scholars.
Sushrutha has described Surgery under eight heads : Chedya (excision) ,Lekhya (Scarification),Vedhya(puncturing),Esya (exploration), Ahrya(extraction),Vsrya(evacuation) and sivya.He treated numerous cases of Nasa Samdham(rhinoplasty),Oshtha Sandhan(clobuloplasty),Karna Sandhan(Otoplasty).Eventoday ,rhinoplasty described by Sushruta in600 BC is referred to as the Indian flap and he is known as the originator of plastic Surgery.Sushrutha who considered surgery the first and foremost branch of medicine and stated that Surgery has the superior advantage of producing instantaneous effects by means of surgical instruments and appliances and hence is the highest in value of all the medical tantras.Sushrutha is considered to be the first surgeon to have removed Cataracts ,describing Varieties of cataracts along with the depression method of counching by the anterior root.Sushrutha developed surgical techniques for reconstructing noses ,earlobes and genitalia ,many amputed as religious ,criminal ,or military punishment.He developed the forehead flap rhinoplasty procedure that remainscontemporary plastic Surgical practice ;also the otoplastic technique for reconstructing an earlobe with skin from the cheek.
His works are compiled as sushrutha Samhitha.He describes 60 types of Upkarma for tratment of wounds,120 surgical insruments and 300 surgical procedures ,and classification of human surgeries in eight categories.The Rigveda-the earlist account of ancient Indian civilization mentions that Ashwini kumaras known as Vedic periods,who had performed rare legendary surgical operations which included the first plastic surgery to re-join the head and trunk of saint Chyavana when Dakshya cut his head.
