Wartime injuries and the methods to treat them have evolved substantially over the years: As war-time weaponry changed from blades to bullets, so too did the methods of treating wounds.
Facial injuries have greatly impacted soldiers in all wars. However, the real devastation began during World War I. Modern weaponry, including machine guns, shrapnel shells and other explosives, left soldiers with injuries to their nose, jaw and cheekbones. Because of the advancements in antiseptics and anesthesia, soldiers were more likely to now survive these injuries — leaving them to face a different battle.
Some soldiers lost the ability to speak, eat or drink, but overall, many suffered a loss of identity. However, improvements to medicine helped the soldiers gain back a little of what they once had. Here are four ways facial reconstruction changed over time.
