In recent times, all thanks to tabloids and celebrity journalism, the term plastic surgery immediately brings to mind the images of perfectly decent looking people, complaining about their looks and emptying out their fat wallets to satisfy themselves to no end. This idea for the most of us is a major turn-off.
Nonetheless, what we fail to realise is that even though this trend of cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the most well-known kind, it does not fully represent the medical specialty. Another major aspect of plastic surgery which has been around since 800 BC and often gets overshadowed is Reconstructive Surgery.
True to its name, this kind of surgery is performed to correct functional impairments caused by burns; traumatic injuries, developmental abnormalities; infection and diseases. Even though it is usually performed to improve function, it is also carried out to give the patient a more normal appearance. In recent years, the trend of plastic surgery has considerably increased in Pakistan which has paved paths for young and qualified plastic surgeons like Dr Osman Bashir Tahir to offer their diverse range of services. Even though, Dr Tahir is an internationally qualified plastic surgeon, his work is not only focused towards beautification but at changing peoples’ lives for the better. Through his work, he wants to make a difference and for this purpose has been performing reconstructive surgeries at Mayo Hospital apart from successfully running his own clinic, Halcyon Medicare in Lahore.
In 2010, Maryam Mukhtar, a friendly and vibrant girl from Gujranwala was admitted to the outpatient wing of the Mayo Hospital. Her face was badly scarred from burns she suffered at the age of two when her dupatta caught fire while playing near the stove. At the time of the incident, she was taken to an emergency hospital nearby where the necessary medical assistance was provided to her. However, due to the lack of proper treatment, her face got disfigured, making her a target of bullying and pity among her peers and acquaintances.
“I was called names and bullied throughout my school life. It was hard for me to fit in among kids with healthy, glowing faces,” said Maryam who believes that the attitude of the people around her shattered her self esteem.
When she came to the Mayo Hospital, Dr Tahir was working there as an MS Plastic Surgery resident. After reviewing her complete history, it was concluded that her scars were treatable but it would be an expensive procedure.
Not to over burden Maryam’s family and shatter her hopes, Dr Tahir decided to conduct the procedure free of cost at his own facility. The procedure was completed over a number of days, during which Dr Tahir performed reconstructive surgery on her face and minimally invasive, non-surgical medical skin treatments to help improve her skin. Even though the treatment is still under process, the change in Maryam was evident who said, “Dr Tahir helped me boost my self-esteem; now I have clearer skin. Not only did he surgically remove the scars, he performed free regular skin treatments as well. Also during the whole process, he was very to with both my parents and me and kept boosting my morale. He really did change my life.” Another patient that Dr Tahir has been treating since the last three years is Iqra Ashfaq, a 17-year-old girl. She had been suffering from Congenital Melanocytic Nevus, a type of mole found in infants at birth. It is a circumscribed, light brown to black patch or plaque, potentially very heterogeneous in consistency, covering any size surface area and any part of the body; in Iqra’s case, her face. Due to her condition, she was made fun of by her peers. She was called names which made her feel insecure about her looks. When she first met Dr Tahir, she was in a severe state of depression. Dr Tahir treated her free of cost.
Through these cases, Dr Tahir wants to give hope to patients who have been mocked all their life due to some sort of facial disfigurement. To further his cause, Dr Tahir is in the process of starting his own NGO ‘Healing Faces’. This NGO will provide free services to the truly deserving people and will help them change their lives for the better.
