Beauty Culture.

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Creator

John Woodbury

Title

Beauty Culture.

Coverage

New York

Publisher

G. W. Dillingham Co.

Date

1910

Description

John H. Woodbury was an American self-trained dermatologist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In his youth he had a large facial nevus, or mole, on his face. His self-esteem improved after successfully having it removed, and he realized the significance that surgery can have on a person’s life. He built an empire of cosmetic surgery institutes in six states, with scores of physicians and employees. He and his colleagues performed numerous facial cosmetic surgeries of the face, forehead, cheek, nose, and chin. These procedures were described not in peer-reviewed journals and books but rather through advertisements for the public, and so he was fairly unknown in medical and academic circles. In addition, he started a proprietary cosmetic line that was very lucrative and was later sold to the Jergens Company. In this book, Woodbury discusses both dermatologic and surgical means to restore and maintain facial rejuvenation. Not only does he discuss topical creams, ointments, and medications, but he also discusses electrolysis, vibrations, and message. He also considers surgery, but not with the reverence that other true surgeons of the day were practicing. He incorporated all these modalities into his practices, so it is easy to see why he maintained a large following. Eventually this type of practicing and advertising became illegal, and his practices started to fail; he later admitted he was not even a medical doctor. Despite this infamy, he did have historically significant achievements.