Functional Aesthetic Surgery at CIHSR Department of Surgery

Dr Bona Lotha & Dr Temsula Alinger
CIHSR

The Department of Surgery at CIHSR Dimapur, Nagaland offers a wide spectrum of services to the state and neighboring Indian states. Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery which is an integral part of the department, adds to the repertoire of treatments available to all patients.
The main focus of the Aesthetic Surgery Programme includes:

1. Focus on functional aesthetic surgery, which involves the correction of both appearance and function
2. Aesthetic Reconstructive Surgery, for deformities, trauma, post cancer reconstruction, burns contractures and scars
3. Addressing psychological issues related to trauma, scars, and facial deformities like clefts or cancer. Many people may have a misconception of aesthetic surgery, mainly because of peer pressure, social media and one’s own dissatisfaction with appearance. This can cause immense psychosocial stress and anxiety, withdrawal and inability to express the best self. Aesthetic surgery is not the answer to happiness in life, and is only a means to address a small part of the individual’s mental health. However, the small difference could improve the person’s outlook to life. And, we would like to make that small difference.
The main aim of the aesthetic surgery programme is to bring wholesomeness to a person who has lost confidence, or the hurting individual. Whenever possible, we try to correct deformity, enhancing the aesthetic and functional outcome, so that the person can enjoy a better quality of life, without being ostracized by society in general.

You Feel Good, when you look good:
The aesthetic surgery mission of transformation can be life changing .The transformational journey after corrective aesthetic surgery is seen in one’s own household, neighborhood, village and region. It can be a rewarding experience for all.

In this context, we would like to share about a novel outreach programme for cleft lip and palate children called Happy Smiles. Happy Smiles is a programme for cleft children in Nagaland and nearby states. It is all about helping underprivileged cleft patients. This is the first homegrown smile programme for cleft lip and palate children.

We have helped many underprivileged children with state of the art aesthetic reconstructive surgery, who otherwise would never have had a chance to live a normal life. Now their future looks bright, and they are confident to face the world and challenges that any normal person would undertake.

As a dedicated programme for cleft patients, we offer reasonable costs for all surgeries, Patients with Ayushman cards can avail of the services. Every design we use is nuanced. However, we would advise all patients to be very careful of post-operative wound care, because infections of the wound can spoil even the best of surgeries.

Type of surgeries that our department offers, includes daycare cosmetic surgeries, as well as major cosmetic procedures: 
1.    Oculoplastic surgeries include eyelid surgeries like Asian double eyelid for cosmesis, trauma, tumor, ptosis, in-growing eyelashes, ectropion, lower eyelid bags, lid defects, brow lifting, and upper eyelid designs
2.    Facial plastic includes scar revisions, keloid treatment, cleft lip and palate, ear and nose cosmetic reconstructive procedures like rhinoplasty, nose reconstruction for trauma/cancer with our modified tailored forehead flap, otoplasty (ear pushback) and ear reconstruction for trauma, tumor and congenital deformities.
3.    Tummy tuck and liposculture of abdomen and others
4.    Hand and face rejuvenation include face lifting, neck lift
5.    Sweaty armpit sweat gland removal using small incisions
6.    Extra breasts in armpit area removal with liposuction and button-hole mastectomy
7.    Reconstruction of fingertip amputation with nail distraction of pulp

For functional aesthetic procedures, we also perform a wide array of non-microsurgical hand reconstruction including finger reconstruction, tendon repairs, and tendon transfer for thumb drop EPL from EIP, index finger drop, wrist drop, fused fingers and others.
Patient expectations can often be unrealistic and phenomenal. It is not realistic to have such high expectations, because each individual has a different feature, skin type and mental attitude.

What is good for a certain race may be unsuitable for other races. Some may be happy with a procedure for a relatively simple correction, while others may have expectations of morphing themselves into celebrity clones, in order to keep up with beauty influencers on social media.

The procedures that we offer here are aesthetically nuanced and tailored to suit the people of the region and eslewhere. Thankfully, a vast majority are happy with this. We would rather provide services in an ethical manner, for the benefit of all our patients. 

Having said all that, we believe in the advantages of aesthetic surgery to provide adequate solutions to our patients needs. You feel good, when you look good.

Consultants in Department of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: 
Dr Bona Lotha, MS Fellow, Chang Gung Craniofacial Center, Taipei
•    Board-Certified in Aesthetic Medicine, Miami
•    Overseas Consultant, CL Yeap Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Singapore
•    Member, American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA)
•    Smile Train Credentialed Surgeon

Dr Temsula Alinger, MS Fellow, Plastic Surgery, CIHSR
•    CFO, CIHSR
•    Advisor and Mentor to the Department of Surgery
•    Senior Surgeon, FMAS, FIAGES
•    Member, American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA)
•    Smile Train Credentialed Surgeon