A book that dates back to the 16th century was recently sold at auction, and it contains what is believed to be one of the first depictions of rhinoplasty (surgery to reshape the nose). The book, which was published in 1597, sold for £11,000 (around $16,000) to a plastic surgeon, The UK Based Daily Telegraph reports.

Many people believe that rhinoplasty is a uniquely modern procedure, but this text indicates otherwise. The book was written in Latin by Gaspare Tagliacozzi and includes various diagrams and illustrations detailing surgery on the nose. Experts believe that the methods documented were used to treat facial injuries sustained in battle. The book is especially interesting because the procedure apparently disappeared until 200 years later.

"What is strange is that the techniques and ideas in the book were clearly well-thought of at the time and yet all was so quickly forgotten following Tagliacozzi's death," Chris Albury, an employee for the auction house that sold the book, told the news source.

Though it has transformed significantly since its early days, rhinoplasty has been one of the most popular procedures in recent years. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, there were more than 130,000 such surgeries performed in 2009.