Pictures of first person to undergo plastic surgery released
Walter sustained terrible facial injuries including the loss of upper and lower eyelids while manning the guns as a sailor aboard HMS Warspite in 1916. In 1917 he was treated by Sir Harold Gillies - the first man to use skin grafts from undamaged areas on the body - and know as 'the father of plastic surgery'.
The young sailor was given new eyelids with a 'mask' of skin grafted across his face and eyes.
Artist Paddy Hartley, 37, has previously used the images in an exhibition and is now attempting to track down Walter's family to find out what happened to him. Paddy said: "This tragedy catalysed the surgeon to transform the fledgling discipline of plastic surgery. Walter Yeo last went for treatment at the Royal Naval Hospital in Plymouth 1938, but little else is known about him. It would be interesting to know what happened to him in the years that followed. I'm keen to find out how he and his family coped with the consequences of his injuries and subsequent surgery."
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- JanaPokana
- added this
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They just glued a part of another face onto his...
This is a really creepy picture.
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- JonnyIrish
- 1 year ago
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Medical Technology that time is not superb. I agree with the author what happened to him after the surgery. Was there any complications? How did he cope up? Did his face skin accepted the new one?
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- gracesteban
- 1 year ago
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Does anyone else think he looked better in the before shot in the left? His "horrific" injuries don't seem so bad to me...?
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- phillyharper
- 1 year ago
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Yeah, I think the strange 'layered' effect doesn't work so well. Someone had to be the first.
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Yikes. He could open and close his eyes again, but he looked like he had a steak on his face. Not sure which is worse...
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- oldsaltproductions
- 1 year ago
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thanks for the nightmares.
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That's effing scary... like horror film-scary!
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Looks like a flesh colored Mardi Gras mask, minus the flare.
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Oh, that's hot!
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Keep in mind this was back when Surrealism and Dade were just taking off.
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- AceHardchester
- 1 year ago
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he looked better before :-( but he looks so pleased with the surgery
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- keeshii768
- 1 year ago
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That's a lot of skin
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Not sure which one is better... Before or After
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How far medical science has come since then. His after appearance has a "Phantom of the Opera" look to it.
It would be interesting to know how he coped with the after effects of the surgery; not just medically but interpersonally, professionally, etc.
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This brings back memories of the midwestern town of Haddonfield, Illinois on Halloween (fade in creepy Piano music, white picket fences and bellbottom trousers)
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- Mr_Costello
- 1 year ago
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I believe it got better, in the article didnt they mention him going back for more surgeries?
I think he prefered eye lids to a bad face, plus its an old black and white picture. His face was probably more burnt, pink, messed up than we can tell.
Im so thankful I live in this age.
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- NickerBocker09
- 1 year ago
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Just think about how advanced that procedure was for that time. Although it does not look very cute, he is probably much more comfortable after being given new eyelids. Amazing!
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Poor guy... his tragic accident was the predecessor to a culture of vanity operations.
His face looks a bit like silly putty.
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- luckysnorkel
- 1 year ago
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Yep, I'm sure he was more concerned about his appearance rather than closing his eyes. His dreams of American Idol were completely crushed.
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- supplesammich
- 1 year ago
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An article on mirror.co.uk says Sir Harold used undamaged skin from Walter's shoulder & stretched it across his face. A technique he called 'tubed pedical.'
I think it looks like silly puddy on his face.
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Looks like a plastercine batman mask.
Its a well creepy picture. Pretty interesting though.
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and thus, the hamburgler was invented
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- samonster34
- 1 year ago
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Like any other plastic surgery, the before is definitely more natural-looking.
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- PersonaNonGrata
- 1 year ago
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poor guy. he probably needed it so his eyes didn't dry up and fall out, seeing as he had no upper or lower lids after the war.
it seems like he didn't do it for looks purposes only.
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- MissAmanda
- 1 year ago
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Maybe Michael Jackson should have called him
