Sushruta, the earliest Indian surgeon

Sushruta lived 2000 years ago in the ancient city of Varanasi and was a proponent of Ayurveda, one of the oldest medical disciplines. He is the author of Sushrutaa Samhita, one of the most important ancient Indian medical treatises.

​

Sushruta is regarded as the father of surgery. Many techniques in practice today have their roots derived from the practices of ancient Indian scholars like Sushruta. He has classified surgery under various heads and has described various reconstructive procedures for different types of defects. He has devised surgical instruments and described surgical procedures, including anaesthetic studies, some of which are practised even today. The specialities of surgery, orthopaedics, plastic surgery and cosmetology are all covered in his book.