1546-1599

Italian surgeon known as the "father of plastic surgery." He became famous throughout Europe for his inventive operation, called Italian or tagliacotian rhinoplasty, which he performed on patients who lacked a complete nose either because of trauma or birth defect. The patient's nose was attached to a skin pedicle on the upper arm and held in place with a brace until it healed. Although he became quite famous, certain Church officials felt that such emphasis on physical appearance was blasphemy and persecuted him.