‘Pakistan is not just beautiful in terms of the scenery but also its people

Renowned plastic surgeon Dr Palazzo talks about the future of cosmetic surgery in Pakistan

KARACHI: Several renowned international plastic surgeons visited Karachi over the weekend for the annual conference of Pakistan Association of Plastic Surgeons (PAPSCON) held at Agha Khan University Hospital (AKUH). Prominent among them was International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) Managing Director Dr Michelle Palazzo.

As the conference came to a close The Express Tribune met Dr Palazzo and asked her about her experience in the field and her visit to Pakistan.



"My journey here has been wonderful. The people are really hospitable," said Dr Palazzo, adding that she was invited here by a friend and has found Pakistan to be a place rich with culture. "I appreciate the humanity, sincerity, kindness and togetherness here," she said. "Pakistan is not just beautiful in terms of the scenery but also its people," raved Dr Palazzo.

Elaborating on her professional journey, Dr Palazzo said her special interests included cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the breast, body contouring, hand rejuvenation, soft tissue injuries and tumours of the hand. She is particularly passionate about her work with cancer patients who require breast reconstruction surgeries as she herself was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through different kinds of reconstructive surgery, explained Dr Palazzo.

PAPSCON 2019, organised by the Pakistan Association of Plastic Surgeons (PAPS) in association with the Express Media grouped also featured the work of plastic surgeons from across Pakistan. When asked about her thoughts on the practice of plastic surgery here, Dr Palazzo said she was happy to see the field expanding in Pakistan. She added that the increasing number of training programmes allowed for plastic surgeons to respond to the needs of their patients.

She advised that more training programmes be introduced with updated syllabus and aspiring plastic surgeons in particular should broaden their focus and find different mentors to train them whether from within Pakistan or abroad and practice the things they learn. This would allow for more exposure to modern research and technologies available in the field which can further the work in Pakistan.

"Young doctors who are aspiring to become surgeons must focus on their trainings and upgrade their skills according to the advancements in the field. They should equip themselves with latest ideas and modern technologies," said Dr Palazzo as a parting note for the young generation of plastic surgeons in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2019.