Areas of Surgery

Plastic Surgery versus Cosmetic Surgery - is there a difference?

Plastic surgery was born out of a necessicity to provide remedy to patients suffering from major wounds, deformities and disabilities of various parts of the human body. Existing options were unable to provide a solution to such problems that needed meticulous planning, delicate handling of body tissues with utmost patience and some creativity to restore missing/damaged body tissues or body parts. This involved either correcting the damage by using local tissue or from elsewhere in the body.

One complex procedure that Plastic Surgeons came to be identified with quite early was reattachment of a amputed (completely detached) body parts like fingers, hand or leg - by use of microsurgery. Plastic Surgery made a dramatic impact on the lives of such people, who would otherwise have been condemned to a miserable life.

Cosmetic Surgery involves surgical procedures done to restore or enhance the appearance or looks of an otherwise normal person, involving any part of the body from head to toe. These delicate procedures the outcome of the cumulative experience the Plastic Surgeon has gained from Reconstructive Surgery procedures. Cosmetic Surgery very often involves 'cheating' nature - the critical balance within the human body - that involves work needing a very precise knowledge of body structure and response to artificial material. Any error in judgment or execution during the procedure can leave the patient far worse off than before the procedure. This is unlike Reconstructive Surgery where the person began with a distinct major problem of a body part.

With economic progress and improved spending power, Cosmetic Surgery procedures are slowly becoming popular in India. Unlike in the West, these procedures are needed here for gross problems of shape or appearance that border on a deformity. Unfortunately, due to the stigma attached - as catering to a person's ego or vanity - people hesitate to avail of these services or even when they do, there is lack of family support. Few other false notions add to this problem. The apparent link to the glamour industry makes commoners believe that these procedures are not meant for the common man. Even if someone makes up their mind to get problems of appearance corrected, there is the notion that such procedures are available only in major Metros, where the cost is likely to be prohibitive.

It is in this background that we have organized ourselves to set up a Center to provide Comprehensive Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Services - Linea Cosmetic Surgery - in Mangalore. Being a Tier C city that is small and well connected - both domestic and overseas - gives us a natural advantage to provide Plastic Surgery services that is both accessible and affordable with results and safety at par with international standards.

We realize that the a person with a background training in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery is in the best position to not only perform Cosmetic Surgery procedure, but also take care of any problems if they were to ever happen. Please note that complications happen with the best of Surgeons, in the Best of Centers worldwide - what matters is

1. The ability of the Surgeon to identify the problem at the earliest and tackle the problem independently in the best possible way.
2. The person capable of the above alone will take the maximum precautions to prevent such complications in the first instance.

Though it is very possible that a Cosmetic Surgery procedure, done by someone without a training background in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, can pass off smoothly, prudence suggests otherwise.

So be Wise, stay safe, follow your dreams!