Forgotten Plastic Surgery Pioneer Gets New TV Series

A new eight-part television drama, titled Dr. Jakob, is in development, set to bring the forgotten story of Dr. Jakob Joseph to the screen. The series will explore the life of the eccentric and visionary doctor, who is credited with performing the first documented aesthetic surgical procedure in 1896. Danish actor Claes Bang is slated to portray Joseph, a Jewish doctor whose radical methods and profound humanity clashed with the medical establishment of his time.

Initially, Joseph's groundbreaking work pushed him to the periphery of his profession. However, the landscape shifted dramatically with the return of severely disfigured soldiers from World War I. Faced with injuries never before seen, the once-mocked outsider became an indispensable asset to a society desperately needing innovative medical solutions for reconstruction and recovery.

The character-driven and highly suspenseful medical drama is being developed by UFA Fiction and Paper Entertainment. Creators expressed surprise that the story of this European visionary, largely unknown in Germany despite his impact on modern plastic surgery, was brought to their attention by British creatives. The series is currently in development with no buyer attached, and further casting announcements are expected.