Joseph Pancoast

Joseph Pancoast (November 23, 1805 – March 6, 1882) was an American surgeon. His name is eponymic to the practice of surgery, in general, and cosmetic surgery, in particular.

Pancoast was responsible for many seminal advancements in surgery that he described, and were depicted graphically, in numerous scholarly articles and books. His greatest work, A Treatise on Operative Surgery, was published in 1844. Famous for his lectures and clinics in anatomy and surgery, Pancoast also received attention for his ability to perform surgery with either hand as he was ambidextrous. Furthermore, Pancoast was the first to demonstrate a substitute eyebrow coined a "long pedicle", and frequently replaced eyelids and ears. Pancoast was also among the first to section facial nerve to relieve neuralgia. On the eye, Pancoast operated upon cataracts. He also performed major surgery such as amputations at the hip-joint, as well as lithotomy.