World Plastic Surgery Day: Plastic Surgery Marathon at RML
To mark World Plastic Surgery Day on July 15, RML Hospital organized a 24-hour Operating Theatre (OT) Marathon, during which 24 plastic surgeries were performed. The marathon, which commenced at 9 am on Monday, saw a combination of new and pending surgeries completed, without impacting emergency cases handled by a separate team of doctors.
Addressing the Waiting Time
Dr. Ajay Shukla, the medical superintendent of the hospital, highlighted that the event aimed to reduce the waiting time for surgeries. Dr. Samik Bhattacharya, from the Department of Burns, Plastic, Maxillofacial, and Microvascular Surgery, mentioned that patients with postponed surgeries and those requiring immediate care were prioritized.
Types of Surgeries Performed
The Surgeries performed included treatments for trauma and burns-related deformities, acute injuries resulting in skin loss, congenital defects such as cleft lip and palate, big birthmark excision, and bed sore therapy.
Increasing Demand for Plastic Surgery
Dr. Bhattacharya noted a 25-30% increase in the number of people opting for plastic surgeries, with a significant proportion being men. This rise is attributed to increased awareness and self-consciousness influenced by exposure to movies and social media.
“People have become more conscious about their appearance,” Dr. Bhattacharya said. “In addition to reconstructive surgery for trauma, cancer, and burns, there is an increasing demand for cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, facelifts, breast augmentation, and rhinoplasty.” Men commonly seek procedures such as the removal of male breasts and hair transplants.”
Safety and Training in Plastic Surgery
Advancements in training and technology have significantly improved the safety of plastic surgery, encouraging more people to opt for these procedures. Dr. Bhattacharya emphasized the importance of filtering facts from fiction regarding cosmetic surgery to present a realistic picture based on scientific knowledge.
The OT marathon also served as a training exercise to enhance the hospital’s capacity to handle disasters and mass casualties. Dr. Bhattacharya noted that on average, six surgeries are performed daily, underscoring the marathon’s impact on reducing the backlog of cases.
The Scope of Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery is a comprehensive speciality dealing with the reconstruction of defects or loss of body parts and cosmetic surgery. This includes restoring body parts lost due to cancer or trauma and correcting deformities acquired by birth, trauma, or burns. Specific trauma cases, such as facial fractures and hand injuries, are also managed by plastic surgeons.
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Cosmetic surgery, a subspecialty of plastic surgery, focuses on improving aesthetics and enhancing appearance, thereby playing a crucial role in the field.
Source: Inputs from various media SourcesÂ
