Thomas V. DiBacco is a historian at American University. Panels from Tagliacozzi's 16th century text show four stages in the rebuilding of a nose. Skin flap is partly cut from arm of noseless patient, upper left. Other end is grafted onto face while patient wears a rigid harness for 14 days so blood from arm can nourish skin for the new nose, upper right. Flap is severed from arm, lower left.
Skin graft is bandaged, lower right, for two more weeks before it can be molded into a new nose.