Plastic surgery had it’s beginning in FR Muller’s when plastic and reconstructive service was started at the St. Joseph’s Leprosy Hospital. Between 1960-1970, Dr. Winch and Dr. Heinz, doctors from Swiss Amoss looked after reconstructive surgery required in the rehabilitation of leprosy patients. Later the same work was carried on by Dr. Nandakishore who was trained by Dr. Fritchie of Karigeri center of C.M.C Vellore. His work was also limited to the surgical reconstruction in the rehabilitation of leprosy patients and did not cover other aspects of plastic and reconstructive surgery.
From 1980 -1988, Dr.Y.S.Rai, an assistant professor at K.M.C. Mangalore, who was trained in plastic surgery in U.K. did part-time service in Fr. Muller Medical College as a plastic surgeon. Though all kinds of plastic surgeries were being done, a full time, separate plastic surgery department was not established. Dr.Y.S.Rai discontinued his attachments as he became a full time staff at K.M.C. Mangalore but continued to visit Fr. Muller Hospital on request occasionally.
Perhaps the start of a separate plastic surgery department could be attributed to the appointment, in 1989, of Dr. Nirved Jain, MCh, a plastic surgeon trained at PGI Chandigarh. After Dr.Nirved Jain left Fr. Muller Medical College, Dr. Krishna Rao, MCh, trained at PGI Chandigarh joined and left in early 1994. Dr. Leo Theobald Menezes, MCh, trained at C.M.C Ludhiana joined service in April 1994. Dr.Y.S.Rai joined service after superannuation in September, 2010.
All kinds of plastic surgery procedures are undertaken like trauma, congenital deformities, other lesions and all kinds of aesthetic and reconstructive procedures. There is also a well equipped burns unit with seven beds. It is the only specialized burns unit in Dakshina Kannada district
Recenty an electric dermatome and a skin mesher has been acquired to facilitate extensive skin grafting procedures. The department is constantly being upgraded with instrumental and infrastructural requirements to keep up with the new developments in plastic surgery.
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