What was a common practice in plastic surgery before WW1?

The practice of painful procedures with high infection risks was indeed common in plastic surgery before World War I. During this time, the understanding of infection and aseptic techniques was not as advanced as it would become later. Surgeons often performed procedures without the benefit of antibiotics or the sterilization methods that are standard today. This resulted in a high rate of complications due to infections, which could significantly impact the healing process and the overall success of surgical interventions.

Additionally, the techniques used at that time relied heavily on surgical methods that were invasive and often caused considerable pain without the effective management of discomfort that would follow in later years, especially post-World War I when advancements in medical knowledge and technology began to emerge. The emphasis on immediate repair or reconstruction of injuries, as seen in later practices, was not as prevalent before the war, making it less relevant for that period.