INTRODUCTION

The Specialty:

In contrast to popular belief, the specialty of Plastic Surgery has a far wide application than merely a “ Face-lift” or a “Nose job”. This is a specialized branch of Surgery, which involves restoring a person’s “form & function”, which are compromised or lost due to trauma, debilitating diseases or congenital defects. Plastic Surgery can also involve improving the appearance of a person and thus the self-image, through cosmetic procedures. It is a problem-solving specialty based on strong principles, which comes to the aide of all the other surgical specialties in difficult situations. The word “Plastic” is derived from the Greek word “Plastikos” which means “to Mould”.

THE DEPARTMENT:

  1. The Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was established at the Hospital in the year 1998. Since then, this Department has an independent identity. It has undertaken a vast number of surgeries in various fields of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery like Cosmetic Surgery, Burns, Paediatric Plastic Surgery, Cleft & Craniofacial Surgery, Reconstructive Surgery, Micro-vascular Surgery and Hand Surgery.
  2. The Department has a full fledged state-of-art equipped Operation Theatre to conduct Major Surgeries and a Minor Operating room for minor day care procedures.
  3. The Department is recognised by the Smile Train to provide free surgeries for Cleft Lip –Palate patients since the year 2001, under this project more than 9000 surgeries has been performed.
  4. The Department has a Speech Laboratory for Speech Evaluation and Speech Therapy.
  5. The Department has well equipped 20 bedded ward for Plastic Surgery and a Burns Intensive Care Unit with 11 beds.
  6. The department also runs Skin Bank in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Belagavi “KLES Rotary Skin Bank” which was commissioned in 2018.
  7. The Department runs a Fellowship in Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery from 2008. The duration of the course is one year.
  8. The Department has started a M.Ch. Programme in Plastic Surgery from the academic year 2009.

The different sub-specialties in Plastic Surgery:

Cosmetic/Aesthetic Surgery:

“Reconstructive surgery is an attempt to restore the individual to normal; Aesthetic surgery attempts to surpass the normal”

The surgeries aimed to improve overall appearance of person as possible

  • Body Contour Surgeries like Liposuction/Liposculpture, Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck), Arm Lift, Thigh Lift.
  • Breast Cosmetic Surgeries like Breast Augmentation (Implants), Reduction Mammoplasty (Breast Reduction), Breast Lift (Mastopexy).
  • Facial Rejuvenation Surgeries like Brow lifts, face/Neck Lifts, Blepharoplasties (Eyelid Surgery)
  • Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)
  • Otoplasty (Ear Cosmetic Surgery)
  • Hair Restoration Surgery (Hair Transplant) – Treatment for Baldness
  • Facial Implants for Cheeks, Chin & Nose
  • Lip Augmentation/Lip Reduction
  • Botox & Fillers for Facial Rejuvenation
  • Keloid treatment

Paediatric Plastic Surgery:

The Surgeries aimed at correcting Birth (Congenital) defects,

  • Cleft Lip & Palate
  • Other Craniofacial Anomalies like deformed Skull, Nose, Microtia (Malformed Ears), Anotia (Absent Ears), etc.
  • Deformities of the Limbs and Digits like Syndactyly (Joined Fingers), Polydactyly (Supernumerary digits), Club Hand, etc.
  • Deformities of Genitalia like Hypospadias, Ambigous Genitalia.
  • Haemangiomas and Vascular Malformations
  • Congenital Naevi(Birth Marks)

Burns:

The procedure of acute management and treating of patients with burns and with post burn injury deformities,

  • Contractures of various parts of the body like the neck, mouth, axilla, elbows, wrists, hands, fingers, groin, perineum, knees, ankle, foot and toes
  • Post burn scars
  • Post burn hypopigmentation
  • Post burn alopecia (Hair loss)

Reconstructive Surgery:

The goal is to restore an individual’s form and function to as near normal as possible

  • Post traumatic defects – loss of skin and tissue cover, exposed bones and bony factures
  • Facio-maxillary trauma
  • Defects following surgeries for Cancer, like Breast Reconstruction, Head & Neck Reconstruction, etc.,
  • Vitiligo (White Patches)
  • Lymphedema (Elephant Leg)
  • Chronic Non-healing Wounds, Diabetic Wounds
  • Bed sores
  • Facial Palsy (Paralysis)
  • Diabetic Foot

Micro-vascular Surgery:

  • Replantation of amputated limbs, fingers, etc.,
  • Free Tissue Transfer
  • Free muscle Transfer
  • Free Toe Transfer
  • Post traumatic
  • Vascular Injuries

Hand Surgery:

  • Injuries of the Hand including fractures, finger tip and nail injuries
  • Nerve Palsy (Paralysis)
  • Brachial Plexus Surgeries
  • Post Leprosy deformities