Kerala, God’s own land! The land of virgin beaches, majestic coconut palms and groves of luscious green mangoes. The land of blissful ayurvedic massages, sublime backwaters and splendid boat races. And plastic surgery!
Yes, if recent trends are to be believed, Kerala, a state renowned for spiritual rejuvenation and literacy, is racing ahead in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery; both come broadly under the term “plastic surgery.” The number of people who approach a plastic surgeon for a nose job or a tummy tuck, face-lift or an eyelift have risen considerably in the recent past in Kerala. The expertise that the meritorious Kerala plastic surgeons offer, combined with comparatively reasonable rates, exclusive care and privacy as well as the glorious greenery have made patients flock from all over the world to this land of beauty and medical skills.
Perhaps not many know that ancient India contributed to the origins of plastic surgery. The classic nose reconstruction by raising a flap from the forehead has its origin in India. Cutting off the nose used to be a punishment in ancient times and those with cut and deformed noses due to leprosy or syphilis were helped by those surgical procedures. It was Sushrutha, rightly called the father of rhinoplasty, who described the method of “rhinoplasty” which dates back to 400 to 600 years before Christ! Indian surgery remained ahead of its European counterpart until the 18th Century when the surgeons of the East India Company learned rhinoplasty from Indians.
Contrary to common belief that plastic surgery is merely cosmetic, reconstructive surgery is beneficial to people who have lost a hand or fingers at work or who have been burned and scarred. The plastic surgeon makes the person mobile and functional, thereby enabling him to continue to earn a livelihood. People who are born without a limb or an organ or with deformities such as cleft palate are also helped by the plastic surgeon.
Gone are the days when moralists and the righteous in Kerala were the majority and frowned upon cosmetic surgery for enhancement of beauty. Religious Lakhmanrekhas or narrow mindsets acted as constraints earlier but changing times and practical realities have made people accept the help of plastic surgery for a qualitative improvement in life. While inner beauty is very much desired, psychological research and data prove that a pleasant appearance definitely makes a positive impact and aids in career advancement as well as in interpersonal relations.
Lekha Mohan, a resident of Jeddah, spoke about her experience undergoing a liposuction at Specialists’ Hospital in Ernakulam. “I had become quite heavy and my stomach was hugely bloated. I had difficulty in walking, talking or even doing ordinary things. I was suffering from mental trauma and was depressed. After the liposuction, however, my self-esteem was restored and I am now happy.”
Another resident of Jeddah said, “I underwent a rhinoplasty at Specialist Hospital, Kerala recently. It has made me more confident. My family’s conservative mindset changed after seeing the good results.”
Dr. Jayakumar, a microvascular and plastic surgeon at Specialist Hospital, said,” On the whole, more Keralite men than women are having plastic surgery. Recently we have had an increase in the number of Arab and Indian expatriates from the Gulf and the US. We take a limited number of such cases but they are booked months in advance.”
Plastic surgeons all over the world who are engaged in giving a qualitative change to people’s lives offered their ideas when asked about the merits of plastic surgery.
Dr. John Tymchak, a New York plastic surgeon with fourteen years of experience said, “The field deals with treating birth defects in children, reconstructing wounds and defects resulting from trauma and cancer and helping people to attain a more functional and attractive appearance.”
Professor Eed, a well-known plastic surgeon from a clinic in Jeddah, stated, “We do not change what is normal. Instead we bring normality back to people’s lives. Everyone likes to be the best so why not in beauty? It is a correction process that brings a lot of happiness and quality to people’s lives. One is advised to go to the best in order to reduce risk factors. The more experienced the surgeon, the better.”
In other words, no matter how the wind blows, Kerala seems to be the answer to man’s quest for regeneration, whether spiritual or physical.
