Mangalore, Jun 4: In today’s world people need not be ‘blessed’ with good looks to be called beautiful. We are living in a realistic world and in today’s realistic world looking beautiful or gorgeous is possible with the help of cosmetic surgery. In other words as Rakhi Sawant has famously said “what god does not give you doctors can”. Until recently only celebrities and those in the glamour world were conscious about their physical appearance. Times have changed and ‘acquiring beauty’ is within the reach of the middle class who would opt for a little nip tuck here and there to overhaul their appearance. So if someone wants to have Priyanka Chopra-like lips, Sridevi or Sonakshi-Sinha type nose or the forever young-looking Hema Malini type of face, it is possible to get it through cosmetic surgery. Apart from enhancing beauty cosmetic surgery has come in handy for those born with flawed body parts or need corrective surgeries to enable them lead a normal life following accidents. 

Leading Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon of Mangalore Dr Sathishchandra B K, MS, Mch, who is a Professor at K S Hegde Medical College and Hospital, Deralakatte, is a well-known name in reconstruction surgeries in the city. He is also associated with Sparsha Medical Centre in the city. 

He is of the opinion that due to increased awareness among people cosmetic surgery has gained prominence especially in today’s world where looks are everything. “Cosmetic surgery has become an important part of medical health because it can cause profound change in the psyche of the people. Modern society is obsessed with physical beauty and youthfulness and there is an increased focus on the body and appearance. Beauty has become the new symbol of youth and acceptance and any flaw is viewed as a hindrance to climb up the ladder of success”. 

Dr Sathishchandra points out that confidence can do wonders for a person’s self-esteem and overcoming a flaw by undergoing surgery can boost the confidence level to a great height. It is the confidence that can make a person beautiful. 

Dr Sathichchandra, has been handling plastic surgeries at K S Hegde Hospital involving reconstruction such as congenital nerve surgery, microphysical surgery and surgeries related to cosmetic and restoration. Breast augmentation or Breast reduction, gynecomastia (enlargement of the gland tissue of the male breasts), Brow Lift, Fat Grafting, Blepharoplasty (surgery of the eyelids), Rhinoplasty (Nose surgery), liposuction, tummy tuck, Brachioplast (upper arm lift), lip collagen, face lift and Botox treatment etc., are some of the works or surgeries that can be characterized as cosmetic surgery. 

Dr Sathishchandra is adept in some of the most prevalent aesthetic/cosmetic procedures generally opted by people such as: 

1. Breast augmentation

2. Rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) 

3. Eyelid surgery (eye lift) 

4. Liposuction ( removal of excess fat) 

5. Abdominoplasty, also known as tummy tuck, is a procedure to firm up and reshape the abdomen especially for women after childbirth

6. Botox treatment

7. Gynecomastia 

8. Hair transplantation 

Though there is a general feeling that more women than men are willing to go under the knife to improve their looks, it is not entirely true. Dr Sathishchandra points out that while more women opt for plastic surgery, men are becoming more and more conscious of their looks and go for correcting a receding hairline or double chin. Many men these days undergo male breast reduction caused by hormonal imbalance. Breast augmentation is a procedure to change the size or shape of the breasts in women. Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that involves removal of excess body fat from various parts of body and women and overweight men opt for it. Facelift is a surgery involving tightening of sagging facial skin that comes with an ageing body and a neck lift can tighten sagging jowls and loose skin. “Aging causes skin to undergo gradual changes causing jowls, sagging skin, drooping eyelids and wrinkles. In some people aging signs will manifest earlier than usual. Now cosmetic surgery procedures are available for all those who want to look younger by getting rid of these signs of aging. Botox can give you a wrinkle-free face and it is the darling of the celebrities and those who are in showbiz. Males are touchy about their crowning glory – their receding hairline and they opt for hair transplantation. 

He further adds that plastic surgery is so advanced now anyone willing to spend money can become stunningly beautiful. It has been made available even to common people and hence there are many who opt for cosmetic surgery for different reasons. 

At the same time Dr Sathishchandra points out that cosmetic surgery has come as a big boon especially those who are in need of a reconstructive surgery following a trauma like accidents, burns, or to remove a mole or an ugly scar which otherwise would have left a deep psychological scar on the person affected. 

A. I undertake a wide range of plastic and reconstructive surgeries like acute burns, post burn reconstruction, cancer reconstruction, hand surgery, microvascular and prachial plexus surgery, diabetic foot management, congenital anomalies and all types of cosmetic surgeries. 

A. There is lot of awareness among people due to multi-media exposure. These days, people are very conscious of their looks because it can give a big push to their confidence level. People panic when they see wrinkles or a receding hairline. Some people want to get rid of the scars caused by accidents. We also must remember that victims of acid attacks or burns could recover from their trauma largely because cosmetic surgery helps them recover. 

A. Youngsters go for cosmetic surgery to improve their appearance as looks can be the gateway to success in any field. Now that cosmetic surgery is available to set right the flaws they feel affect their beauty they want to get rid of it. Affordability is also another factor that is pushing youngsters to alter their looks. If they feel they have some flaw in their appearance it affects their self-esteem. Mostly those interested in getting into the glamour world opt for cosmetic surgery to enhance their looks. 

A. Yes it is. We have to look into the objectives of plastic surgery other than enhancing the looks. Enhancing looks also is beneficial to many people who suffer from lack of motivation, low self esteem etc,. For those who have to cope with scars due to accidents, diseases (like breast cancer), moles that mar their looks or even flawed body parts and plastic surgery has come as a blessing. 

A. Physical disfigurement is a big blow to the morale and self confidence of a person and cosmetic surgery has a pivotal role to play in such cases. ] Cosmetic surgery has come as a blessing for men suffering from enlarged breasts (gynecomastia). If not done it can impair their personality and these days we come across several such cases. A crooked nose or nose with a hump can also cause psychological problem to the person. Similarly there is Otoplasty (surgical reshaping of the outer ear) to deformities like large ears, floppy ears or ears that stick out. 

A. For those who want to look stunning with their looks, can undergo liposuctions to remove excess fat in the body, rhinoplasty (reshaping nose) breast augmentation, breast lift and Botox treatment to resurface the skin, liposuction, tummy tuck etc,. For example, people go for rhinoplasty not just to change the shape of the nose but the entire appearance of the face. 

A. People try to fight the reflections of hands of time on their bodies and seek the services of a plastic surgeon for procedures like skin rejuvenation, facelift, Botox treatment or to overcome bat wings (a term commonly used to describe the floppy skin under the upper arm). Liposuction and tummy tuck is also done by those in the middle age. Then we also do procedures like lip augmentation to have fuller lips and fillers to have full and youthful cheeks. For this procedure the fat removed through liposuction can be used and therefore those who go for liposuction opt for this surgery also. 

A. A person with extra abdominal distribution of fat which refuses to go even with diet or exercise is a good candidate for liposuction. 

A. There is no possibility of regaining the original fat once liposuction is done. If a person maintains proper diet and does proper exercise he can maintain the new look for a long time. 

A. Liposuction scares are like tiny invisible marks which may not be perceptible. Tummy tuck procedure will result only in linear marks which can be hidden under the undergarments. 

 

A. There are two kinds of procedures followed in hair transplant procedure namely Follicular unit extraction or FUE and the other is Strip Harvesting method also known as FUT. In this procedure individual follicular units containing 1 to 4 hairs are removed under local anesthesia. With the use of small micro blades or fine needles the surgeon puncures the sites for receiving the grafts in a predetermined density. It can be done in a single long session or multiple sessions depending on the extent of baldness. Both these procedures have their own advantages and disadvantages. Strip harvesting technique is usually used for treating extensive baldness where as FUE technique is employed in treating limited baldness. 

A. In this method hair is transplanted through surgical technique by moving individual hair follicles from the donor site to bald part of the body called the recipient site. Strip of hair follicles are removed from genetically resistant to balding areas (backside) to be transplanted on the bald scalp. This method gives better results than the FUE method and therefore people opt for this method of hair transplant. 

A. My only advice is not to have unrealistic expectations and not to get obsessed with minor defects. Get it right the first time and always go to a reliable and qualified doctor.