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Summary: The history of women in surgery has been documented since ancient times. Despite this, women physicians have historically encountered unique obstacles in achieving the same respect and privileges as their male counterparts. Early female physicians overcame many challenges to complete their training following graduation from medical school. The first woman in the field of plastic surgery in the United States was Dr. Alma Dea Morani, who became a member of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ASPRS, now ASPS) in 1948. She applied for plastic surgery training six different times over 6 years, until she was accepted at a position where she had shadowing-only privileges. Yet, her steadfast determination and perseverance led her to build a successful career, becoming a role model and advocate for women in plastic surgery. The Women Plastic Surgeons Forum within ASPRS was officially established in 1992; however, informal events began as early as 1979. This group fostered mentorship among emerging female leaders, allowing women to take on leadership roles within national plastic surgery organizations. These women, in turn, have become role models for subsequent generations of women in this field. Plastic surgery has historically seen a higher percentage of female residents relative to other surgical specialties. Studies have shown that female role models are the most influential factor for female medical students interested in plastic surgery, a powerful fact considering women now comprise over 50% of graduating medical students. Female mentorship is essential in fostering the future generation of female plastic surgeons.

In more than 300 clinical cases, the authors have observed and documented the presence of a branch of the deep inferior epigastric artery that penetrates the posterior rectus sheath near the umbilicus. Their cadaveric anatomic and animal injection studies confirm the vascularity of the peritoneum via the deep inferior epigastric artery. They report 2 patients treated with a new technique of vaginal reconstruction using a thin, pliable flap with a peritoneal-lined rectus abdominis muscle based on the deep inferior epigastric vessels.

A lthough name calling has become a national pastime (as you saw if you were paying attention to the recent national election), there ought to be no room for ad hominem attacks in professional discourse. Yet recently, Plastic Surgery Practice ran an article by Dr Grant Stevens discussing his opinion of "core" cosmetic surgery providers, 1 which claimed that only a limited number of specialists are qualiÞ ed to perform cosmetic surgery, an argument that has often been made within the plastic surgery community. 2Although Dr Stevens has made many contributions to cosmetic surgery, the statements and opinions within the article are not the product of rational investigation. Instead, they are simply aimed at limiting who should do cosmetic surgery based solely on speciÞ c limited specialties.There is no question that all surgeons owe the public safe treatment with predictable outcomes, but so many variables affect this that a physician's original specialty training cannot be the exclusive determinant. No specialty "owns" the face or body, and no specialty owns cosmetic surgery. The word "core" has taken on a new meaning in the discussion of cosmetic surgery qualiÞ cations. All of a sudden, a group of selfappointed (if not self-anointed) leaders in several specialties, most visibly plastic surgery, are making the argument, and even trying to legislate their own specialists as the only ones qualiÞ ed for cosmetic surgery procedures. These specialties are trying to convince each other (and those who will listen) that they hold the keys to the cosmetic universe.As a plastic surgeon (J.A.P.) and an oral maxillofacial surgeon (J.N.), we sit on editorial boards and publish within the Þ elds of several specialty organizations, and we share podiums with other specialists. By and large, most plastic surgeons are very talented people and do some amazing things, but one cannot say that just because they have completed a plastic surgery residency and passed a board exam that they are singularly qualiÞ ed to perform cosmetic surgery. After World War II, the Þ eld of plastic surgery arose out of the combined Þ elds of general surgery, oral maxillofacial surgery, and trauma surgery. Early cosmetic surgeons included dermatologists, general surgeons, otolaryngologists, dental surgeons, and even orthopedic surgeons.3 Until the mid-1980s, plastic surgeons even disparaged the Þ eld of cosmetic surgery as frivolous. As recently as 2003, this issue of cosmetic surgery domain and the multispecialty origins of plastic surgery were addressed by Norman Cole in the Upchurch lecture, which is well worth rereading today.4 Richard Webster, a plastic surgeon, participated in the founding of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) precisely because he was unable to present his cosmetic work within the Þ eld of plastic surgery. His ideal of cosmetic surgeons from many surgical specialties teaching and learning from each other remains a hallmark of the AACS to this day.As education and technology progress, many specialties continue to incorpor...

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