Profession: Surgeon
Biography: Karl Ferdinand von Graefe was a German surgeon from Warsaw. He was a pioneer of plastic and reconstructive surgery, and the founder of German rhino-plastic surgery.
Von Graefe studied medicine at Halle and Leipzig, obtaining his license from Leipzig in 1807. After obtaining his license, he was appointed a private physician to Duke Alexius of Anhalt-Bernburg.
In 1811, von Graefe became a professor of surgery and director of the ophthalmological institute at the University of Berlin. His lectures at the University of Berlin attracted students from all parts of Europe. During the Sixth Coalition against Napoleon, he served as a superintendent of military hospitals.
After the war, von Graefe resumed his professorial duties and was appointed physician to the general staff of the Prussian army. He also became a director of the Friedrich Wilhelm Institute and the Medico-Chirurgical Academy (Charité). He died suddenly in Hanover, however, while operating on the eyes of the crown prince.
Von Graefe was a pioneer of plastic and reconstructive surgery, and a founder of German rhinoplastic surgery. He developed his own techniques in rhinoplasty, modifying the methods of Gasparo Tagliacozzi and incorporating Indian surgical practices. He made contributions to cleft palate repair and was a pioneer of eyelid surgery, coining the term "blepharoplasty" in 1818.
His principal works include "Rhinoplastik" (1818) on rhinoplasty, and "Die epidemisch-kontagiose Augenblennorrhoe Ägyptens in den europäischen Befreiungsheeren" (1824) on the disorder of ophthalmic blennorrhea which was affecting European armies in Egypt.
Born: March 8, 1787
Birthplace: Warsaw, Poland
Star Sign: Pisces
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