Reconstructive surgery/Legends

Reconstructive surgery was a medical procedure used to repair injuries or alter a being's anatomy. Darth Vader required extensive reconstructive procedures to repair and rebuild his body after his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar.

Description

Reconstructive surgery was a medical procedure that repaired injuries or altered a being's anatomy, such as modifying their species, sex, or perceived cosmetic flaws.

History

In 27 BBY, Reess Kairn, a Twi'lek male and former Jedi turned pirate, had undergone an operation performed by outlaw surgeons on Balmorra to further disguise himself as a Human priestess among the Daughters of the Ffib while being impersonated on other worlds by shapeshifting Shi'ido decoys. This complicated the bounty hunter Aurra Sing's search for Kairn to fulfill a contract that Kairn placed as the priestess, but it ultimately failed.

To go undercover as the bounty hunter Rako Hardeen, a facial transformation program was used during the Clone Wars to quickly and painfully alter Obi-Wan Kenobi's features into those of the Hardeen, who had supposedly assassinated Kenobi.

Following Darth Vader's loss in his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar in 19 BBY, Emperor Palpatine transported him to Coruscant for treatment at the Emperor Palpatine Surgical Reconstruction Center. The medical droids included a prototype DD-13 surgical droid and an enhanced FX-6 medical assistant droid. They fitted Vader with cybernetic limb replacements for his legs and his left arm, placed hearing implants in his inner ears, inserted a ventilator and tubes to bypass his damaged lungs, and replaced his severely burned skin with synthskin. He was encased in armor that served as a mobile life support system.

When Dab Hantaq was a child in 27 ABY, Viqi Shesh spent a small fortune on cosmisurgeon and bacta tank fees to have him surgically altered into a double for Anakin Solo as a distraction from her attempt to kidnap Ben Skywalker. Hantaq retained Solo's appearance as he grew into adulthood, unlike Solo himself, which was unsettling for Solo's bereaved family and friends.

In 43 ABY, Vestara Khai had a small scar at the corner of her mouth which remained noticeable despite attempts to correct it with cosmetic surgery. Such a mark was considered a flaw among the Lost Tribe of Sith.

In 44 ABY, Galactic Alliance Chief of State Natasi Daala accused Sothais Saar and Turi Altamik of being imposters utilizing plastic surgery or illusions. Han Solo told her she was implying that she was weak-minded, and suggested that the surgeon Thalleus Tharn could verify if the Jedi Knights had undergone surgical procedures in the preceding days.

Appearances

• The Bounty Hunters: Aurra Sing (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Deception"
• Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
• Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith novelization
• Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith unabridged audiobook
• Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
• The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader
• Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight (Mentioned only)
• Splinter of the Mind's Eye
• "The Art of Betrayal" – The Politics of Contraband (Mentioned only) (as Body sculpting surgery)
• "The Art of Betrayal" – Classic Adventures (Mentioned only)
• The New Jedi Order: Star by Star (Mentioned only)
• Fate of the Jedi: Omen (Mentioned only) (as Cosmetic surgery)
• Fate of the Jedi: Omen audiobook (Mentioned only) (as Cosmetic surgery)
• Fate of the Jedi: Allies (Mentioned only)
• Fate of the Jedi: Allies audiobook (Mentioned only)
• Fate of the Jedi: Vortex (Mentioned only) (as Plastic surgery)
• Fate of the Jedi: Vortex audiobook (Mentioned only) (as Plastic surgery)

Sources

• A Guide to the Star Wars Universe (as Major reconstructive plastic surgery)
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia (Mentioned in multiple entries, but without own entry)
• Star Wars: Darth Vader: A 3-D Reconstruction Log