Paul Tessier
Encyclopedia
Paul Tessier was a French surgeon
. He was considered the father of modern craniofacial surgery
.
, Loire-Atlantique
, Dr. Tessier first attended the Ecole de Médecine in Nantes
, Loire-Atlantique, eventually receiving his Doctor of Medicine
degree from the Faculté de Médecine de Paris (Paris Faculty of Medicine) in 1943. In 1942, during internship he started operating on people with cleft lip and Dupuytren's contracture
. He joined the pediatric surgery service at Hospital St. Joseph in Paris in 1944. From late 1944 to 1946, he worked at the Center of Maxillofacial Surgery of the Military Region of Paris in Hospital Puteaux. In 1949, he returned to Nantes to become a surgical consultant in ophthalmology
.
Dr. Tessier started to improve surgical techniques to correct craniofacial deformations in mid-1950s. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he developed the following methods:
In 1970s, he began traveling to the United States
to demonstrate his procedures. Today, his techniques are applied not only to plastic
and maxillofacial surgery, but also other specialties such as trauma
and neurosurgery
.
, the Royal College of Surgeons
at London, and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
.
In 2000 he was presented with the Jacobson Innovation Award.
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
. He was considered the father of modern craniofacial surgery
Craniofacial surgery
Craniofacial surgery is a surgical subspecialty of maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, and ENT that deals with congenital and acquired deformities of the skull, face, and jaws. Although craniofacial treatment often involves manipulation of bone, craniofacial surgery is not tissue-specific,...
.
Biography
Born in HéricHéric
Héric is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.-See also:*Communes of the Loire-Atlantique department...
, Loire-Atlantique
Loire-Atlantique
Loire-Atlantique is a department on the west coast of France named after the Loire River and the Atlantic Ocean.-History:...
, Dr. Tessier first attended the Ecole de Médecine in Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
, Loire-Atlantique, eventually receiving his Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree from the Faculté de Médecine de Paris (Paris Faculty of Medicine) in 1943. In 1942, during internship he started operating on people with cleft lip and Dupuytren's contracture
Dupuytren's contracture
Dupuytren's contracture , is a fixed flexion contracture of the hand where the fingers bend towards the palm and cannot be fully extended...
. He joined the pediatric surgery service at Hospital St. Joseph in Paris in 1944. From late 1944 to 1946, he worked at the Center of Maxillofacial Surgery of the Military Region of Paris in Hospital Puteaux. In 1949, he returned to Nantes to become a surgical consultant in ophthalmology
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
.
Dr. Tessier started to improve surgical techniques to correct craniofacial deformations in mid-1950s. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he developed the following methods:
- Using autogeneous (patient's own) bone grafts instead of siliconeSiliconeSilicones are inert, synthetic compounds with a variety of forms and uses. Typically heat-resistant and rubber-like, they are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medical applications , cookware, and insulation....
or acrylic to modify skullHuman skullThe human skull is a bony structure, skeleton, that is in the human head and which supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.In humans, the adult skull is normally made up of 22 bones...
and facial contours. - Transcranial and subcranial correction of orbital hypertelorismHypertelorismHypertelorism is an abnormally increased distance between two organs or bodily parts, usually referring to an increased distance between the orbits . In this condition the distance between the inner eye corners as well as the distance between the pupils is greater than normal...
. - Techniques for correcting Treacher Collins syndromeTreacher Collins syndromeTreacher Collins syndrome , also known as Treacher Collins–Franceschetti syndrome, or mandibulofacial dysostosis is a rare autosomal dominant congenital disorder characterized by craniofacial deformities, such as absent cheekbones. Treacher Collins syndrome is found in about 1 in 10,000 births, ....
. - Correction of oro-ocular clefts.
In 1970s, he began traveling to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to demonstrate his procedures. Today, his techniques are applied not only to plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
and maxillofacial surgery, but also other specialties such as trauma
Traumatology
Traumatology is the study of wounds and injuries caused by accidents or violence to a person, and the surgical therapy and repair of the damage. Traumatology is a branch of medicine. It is often considered a subset of surgery and in countries without the specialty of trauma surgery it is most...
and neurosurgery
Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spine, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system.-In the United States:In...
.
Honors
Dr. Tessier was a founding member of the International Society of Craniofacial Surgery and the European Association of Maxillofacial Surgeons. He was an honorary member of the American College of SurgeonsAmerican College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is an educational association of surgeons created in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.-Membership:...
, the Royal College of Surgeons
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
at London, and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the world. Founded in 1931, the society is composed of surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada who perform Plastic and...
.
In 2000 he was presented with the Jacobson Innovation Award.