Madame Noël: The First Female Plastic Surgeon

Dr Suzanne Noël was a brilliant plastic surgeon, a feminist, and a suffragette. Born in 1878, she has been called the first female cosmetic surgeon in the world, known internationally as “Madame Noël.”

In this article for the Edit, we are highlighting her amazing career and story. I’ve always felt that aesthetic medicine and plastic surgery can be extremely empowering, not just for the patients but also for the clinicians. Madame Noël is one groundbreaking example of that, and strongly advocated for women to be able to change any parts of their bodies that they so desired, to work, and to vote.

Personal Life & Beginnings in Medicine

Madame Noël was born Suzanne Gros in Laon, France to a wealthy family. Her first husband was a doctor nine years her senior, and she initially began studying medicine in 1905 so that she could work with him in his dermatology practice.

She attended medical school at a time when it was almost unheard of for women to be doctors, excelled in her studies, and gave birth to her first daughter. She sadly lost her first husband in 1919, and remarried Andre Noël, a fellow dermatology student. The rumour was he only passed medical school by handing in a thesis that borrowed heavily from his wife’s work. He had a sad end however, and killed himself in 1924 by throwing himself in the Seine river in front of Suzanne, the tragic act triggered by the death of their daughter. Madame Noël never married again.

First Interest in Cosmetic Surgery

A famous French actress first piqued Madame Noël’s interest in plastic surgery. Sarah Bernhardt had been on tour in America, and returned from her travels looking fresh and rejuvenated in 1912. Madame Noël was intrigued by the reports and photographs of this unknown surgery. She began pinching the skin of her own face, studying it and seeing if she could reproduce the same effect. She finally met with the actress, who explained that the surgery had been accomplished by a simple excision at the top of the scalp, and then pulling the skin of the face gently upwards. Fascinated, Madame Noël began practicing on rabbits, perfecting her art and skills.

The Wars

As discussed in the Beautiful History of Aesthetic Medicine, the world wars were major factors in pushing forward the fledgling field of plastic surgery. During the war, Madame Noël was involved in treating soldiers with various facial injuries.

World War I gave Madame Noël the chance to gain experience in treating soldiers with extensive facial injuries. She decided after the first war that as plastic surgery was not an established practice in hospitals, she would just set up her own practice in her home. She started with face-lifts and eyelid surgeries, and was visited by many of the most famous people in fashion, the arts, and the aristocracy.

One of Madame Noël’s patients, post facelift, preparaing to go home.

When World War II arrived, Madame Noël was ready to put her skills to use once again. She began performing major surgeries at the Clinique des Bleuets in Paris. She was awarded the Legion of Honour from the Foreign Office in recognition of being a doctor of unusual skill. Madame Noël published one of the first books of plastic surgery, and the only one of the time that showed photographs of her many postoperative results. She detailed correction of wrinkles of the face, forehead, eyelids, neck, as well as the removal of moles and scars.

Before and after of a patient with eyelid surgery from Madame Noël’s La Chirugie Esthetique: Son Role Social.

The Businesswoman

Beyond her medical accomplishments, Madam Noël was a firm advocate for women. She was a proponent of soroptimism, which promoted professional women internationally, and organised various chapters of the organisation around the world.

She advocated for women to have key roles in the professional and business world, and lectured and set up networks for women internationally to succeed until her death at the age of 76.

Final Thoughts

Madame Noël always considered her patients deeply - from their stories and motivations, to their comfort and care after they left her practice. Every incision and every step in every procedure was thought out carefully as if she, herself, were in the patient’s shoes - something very different from most of her male counterparts of the day! Reflecting on one of her patients in her book, she wrote:

“I see her frequently; she has gained a remarkably youthful demeanor, together with a feeling of security that she will be able to take on what life brings. This is certainly the best payment a surgeon can receive.”

References

Davis K. Cosmetic surgery in a different voice: the case of Madame Noel. Womens Stud Int Forum. 1999;22(5):473-87. doi: 10.1016/s0277-5395(99)00052-7. PMID: 22593982.

Rogers, BO. A Chronological History of Cosmetic Surgery. Presented at a meeting of the Section on Historical Medicine, Sept 24, 1969.