The history of 3D printing in surgery represents a significant advancement in medical technology, revolutionising surgical planning, personalised implants, and tissue engineering. The foundations of this technology can be traced back to 1984 when Charles Hull invented stereolithography: the first 3D printing technique. However, it wasn't until the late 1990s and early 2000s that 3D printing found its way into surgical applications. A pivotal moment occurred in 1999 when the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine created the world's first lab-grown organ, a bladder tissue, successfully implanted into a patient. This breakthrough demonstrated the potential of 3D printing in creating complex, living tissues. The early 2000s saw rapid advancements in 3D printing technologies applied to surgery. In 2000, the medical field began actively using 3D printing. By 2008, the first 3D printed prosthetic leg was created, marking a significant milestone in personalised medical devices. Subsequent years witnessed remarkable achievements, including the 3D printing of blood vessels in 2009, a jaw in 2012, and a commercially available 3D human liver tissue in 2014. The FDA's approval of the first 3D printed tablet in 2015 further legitimised the technology in healthcare. Recent advancements include the bioprinting of a heart with blood vessels in 2019 and the launch of the first 3D printer for personalised medicine manufacturing in 2020. These developments highlight the ongoing evolution of 3D printing in surgery, promising increasingly sophisticated applications in organ transplantation, personalised implants, and drug delivery systems.