Introduction: Harold Gillies, a visionary surgeon from New Zealand, played a pivotal role in reshaping the history of plastic surgery, particularly in response to the facial injuries of World War I (WWI). His work marked the dawn of modern plastic surgery driven by the philosophy of restoring form and function to allow a patient to preserve their identity. Findings: Establishing the world's first facial reconstruction unit in Aldershot in 1915 and the Queen’s Hospital at Frognal house in Sidcup in 1917, Gillies revolutionised the management of facial injuries. Prior to WWI, facial injuries were largely closed primarily without considering the degree of soft tissue injury and subsequent functional derangement and disfigurement after scar contracture. Gillies performed a tubed pedicled flap on Willie Vicarage in 1916 after his face was severely burned at the Battle of Jutland, and so the tubed pedicled flap emerged as the workforce for facial reconstruction for the next 50 years prior to the introduction of free flaps. Moreover, Gillies contributed to the nasal inlay graft, fan flap, face lifts and temporalis transfer, as well as digit replantation and mammaplasty. Beyond his technical prowess, he advocated for patients, performing the world's first phalloplasty against UK legislature to create a more inclusive society. Finally, Gillies' multidisciplinary approach involving anaesthetists, artists, sculptors and photographers, set the standard for collaborative patient-centred care. Conclusion: Gillies' contributions left an enduring legacy beyond fathering modern plastic surgery; they embody a paradigm shift towards advocacy for inclusivity, patient-centred multidisciplinary care and a relentless pursuit of excellence.