A History of Early Surgeons: From Barber-Surgeons to Specialized Professionals

The first surgeons were barber-surgeons, who practiced surgery alongside their barbering duties. In Medieval Europe, barbers were often the ones who performed bloodletting, tooth extraction, and other minor surgical procedures. As surgery became more complex, the barber-surgeons gradually became distinct from barbers, and by the 16th century, surgery was recognized as a separate profession.