Plastic surgery helps in speedy recuperation: Experts

LUCKNOW: Plastic surgery, that was once considered a luxury, has now become a need based department at hospitals as it helps in speedy recuperation of the injured body part.

“Around 85% of the surgeries are now done for rehabilitation. Cosmetic surgery has virtually taken a back seat as the department has evolved itself and is playing a key role in helping the injured body parts get functional,” said Prof AK Singh, HoD, plastic surgery at the King George’s Medical University (KGMU).

Prof Singh, who recently performed a sex reassignment surgery, said the advancement in plastic surgery had been tremendous.

“Cancer or orthopaedic surgery, all involve a plastic surgeon now to make sure the rehabilitation is speedy,” said Dr Adarsh Kumar, a plastic surgeon.

“Cosmetic surgery was always a small part of plastic surgery. Today, the department is an essential part of all emergency procedures such as in cases of road traffic injuries,” said Dr Vaibhav Khanna, project director, Smile Train, Healthcity Hospital.

The project, run under the plastic surgery department,

operates children born with cleft lip and palate free of cost.

In majority of injuries, the soft tissue injury is what makes the difference, said Dr Khanna. He added, “If the soft tissue injury, which happens with injury to bone and muscle, is repaired and rehabilitated adequately the recovery is speedy, else it takes longer to recuperate.”