Carl Ferdinand von Graefe

Carl Ferdinand von Graefe (March 8, 1787 - July 4, 1840) was a German surgeon who was a native of Warsaw. He earned his medical degree from the University of Leipzig, and afterwards practiced medicine in the duchy of Anhalt-Bernburg. In 1810 he moved to Berlin, and became professor of clinical surgery and director of the ophthalmogical institute at the University of Berlin. After his death in 1840, he was succeeded by Johann Friedrich Dieffenbach (1792-1847) as director of the surgical clinic. He was the father of ophthalmologist Albrecht von Graefe (1828-1870).

Carl von Graefe was a pioneer of plastic and reconstructive surgery, and a founder of German rhinoplastic surgery. He developed his own techniques regarding rhinoplasty, which were modifications of the Italian methodology of Gasparo Tagliacozzi (1545-1599) and the Indian surgical practices that dated from antiquity. Graefe also performed one of the first operations for treatment of a congenital cleft palate, and was a pioneer of eyelid surgery.