Suzanne Noël

Suzanne Blanche Gros Noël (January 19, 1878 – November 11, 1954), also known as Madame Noël, was a French plastic surgeon and the first female plastic surgeon in the world. She was known for her efficient face lift technique, the "petite operation". Noël was also a very active feminist, a philosophy which was considered radical for a practising cosmetic surgeon. She was the founder of Soroptimist International of Europe (SIE) and had a career spanning from 1916 to 1950. At the outbreak of World War I, without having been able to defend her doctoral thesis, like all the interns, Suzanne Gros was allowed to practise medicine in the city. She then joined Professor Hippolyte Morestin at the Val-de-Grâce military hospital in Paris. In 1916, she trained in the techniques of reparative and corrective surgery and in 1918, she received the Silver Medal of National Recognition for her participation and contributions to the war effort.

Early life Born on January 19, 1878, in Laon, France, Suzanne was the only surviving child of a wealthy family. Her father died when she was only 6 years old. At the age of nineteen, she married Henri Pertat, a physician nine years her senior. In 1905, she started taking medical classes in order to work with her husband. In 1919, her first husband, Henri Pertat died.

Surgical career Noёl developed an interest in cosmetic surgery when she saw that the French actress Sara Bernhardt, who was over sixty years in age, had returned from a trip "looking rather rejuvenated" in 1912. Noёl began to experiment with pinching her skin to see if she could acquire the same effect. She later moved to experimenting on anaesthetized rabbits. When she started her practice in 1916, Noël was allowed to treat wounded soldiers for facial surgeries during World War I. She received training on how to operate on disfiguring scars and the rejuvenation of wrinkled faces. She became well known for drawing "world-renowned persons of the fashion world and of the European aristocracy" to her clinic.

She was awarded the Legion of Honor from the Foreign Office for being a "doctor of unusual skill". This was a stepping stone for all female surgeons as it was a time when women were struggling to get a foothold in the medical field. Noёl also believed in a woman’s right to vote;

Soroptimism

In 1923, Noël became interested in Soroptimism, a movement for professional women. In 1924, she set up one of the first of these clubs in Europe, in Paris. She went on to found chapters in ten other European capitals, and in 1930, she became the first president of the European Federation, travelling globally in support of Soroptimism until the end of her life.

Legacy After her death, a fund in her name was established within the Soroptimists International Europe. The main purpose of the Bourse de Dr. Suzanne Noël is to help cover the cost of continuing education for women physicians who are interested in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

In 2026, Noël was announced as one of 72 historical women in STEM whose names have been proposed to be added to the 72 men already celebrated on the Eiffel Tower. The plan was announced by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo following the recommendations of a committee led by Isabelle Vauglin of Femmes et Sciences and Jean-François Martins, representing the operating company which runs the Eiffel Tower.