Cosmetic surgery is a challenging and creative science which requires surgical skills, aesthetic sensibility and an understanding of the human psyche since patients also require psychological counselling In an age when good looks are becoming increasingly important for image building, you needn’t despair if you are less blessed with outward beauty. Cosmetic surgeons are becoming ubiquitous and ready, willing and able to improve on God’s original plan and give you the face, nose, ears, the hair and even the sculpted body of your dreams. Hitherto the preserve of movie stars, glitterati and the elite, during the past decade cosmetic surgery has become a viable option for middle class men and women of all ages, shapes and sizes who are treading an increasingly beaten path to cosmetic surgeons’ consulting rooms. This demand-led boom for cosmetic surgery has created lucrative career opportunities for trained cosmetic surgeons. Cosmetic surgery is a challenging, responsible and creative science, which requires surgical skills, aesthetic sensibility and an understanding of the human psyche, since patients also require psychological counselling. The two main specialisations in this field are reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. Reconstructive treatment focuses on correcting physical defects and abnor-malities, while cosmetic surgeons work towards improving a client’s looks and enhancing her aesthetic appeal. To practise as a cosmetic surgeon, it’s necessary to acquire the base MBBS degree (five and a half years), followed by a three year Master of surgery, or MD surgery/ FRCS or equivalent study programme. Surgeons from various faculties — ENT, gynaecology etc — are eligible to opt for specialisation in cosmetic surgery after adequate training under qualified plastic surgeons for at least two years. For accreditation, surgeons usually target the Fellowship of International College of Cosmetic Surgery or enroll as members of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India. To become a member of the latter, a surgeon must complete an approved residency of at least three years after graduating from medical school. She must then complete another three years of residency before writing exams of a recognised university. In India, cosmetic surgeries are performed mostly in private clinics, specialist day care units and nursing homes, situated in metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore etc. As a career, cosmetic surgery is not only satisfying, but financially rewarding as well. Equipped with optimal qualifications and work experience, a cosmetic surgeon in private practice is likely to join the affluent society very quickly, given that procedures such as liposuction, face lifts, hair transplants, abdominoplasty, breast implants come at a price of Rs.25,000 onwards. “In the past three years since I’ve been practising in Mumbai, there has been a 30 percent jump in the number of people opting for cosmetic surgery. Now even housewives are ringing in for appoint-ments and more interestingly, there’s been a 50 percent increase in the number of male patients,” says Prof. Dr. Mohan Thomas, medical director of The Cosmetic Surgery Institute; founder president of the Asian Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the Academy of Anti-Ageing Medicine, Mumbai/ New York; and honorary…
