To
Maxillofacial Surgeons,
Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery is the field of dentistry which has reached far beyond
oral cavity. There are huge number of oral surgeons who are routinely
performing complicated surgical procedure related to orofacial clefts, TMJ,
head and neck tumors, vascular malformations, facial trauma, plastic and
reconstructive procedures, flaps and grafts, distraction osteogenesis, etc.
successfully and very efficiently. We are the first doctor in mind of our
fellow dentists whenever any kind of surgical complication or medical
emergencies arise.
In past several
years, various oral surgeons have learned and excelled the art of aesthetic
surgery and hair transplant. After all it was not very different and difficult
of what we were doing or learning. Aesthetic surgery is part of OMFS academic
curriculum, we have knowledge of skin, scalp and other anatomical units of head
and neck, knows how to handle medical emergencies, oral surgeons have surgical
skills and eye of an aesthetician. The oral surgeons are capable of harvesting
various flaps and grafts from distant areas.
Yet where
our community stands?
The IHRS, AHRS
entitles M. Ch. Plastic Surgery, M.D / Diploma in Dermatology, M. S General
Surgery, M. S ENT, DORL for membership but does not recognizes MDS oral
surgery. The DCI consider our valuable skills but is silent on the question of
eligibility to perform facial aesthetic procedures and hair transplant surgery.
There have been instance where state MCI has concluded MBBS doctor to be
ineligible to perform hair transplant but overall their stand has been
indecisive. The AOMSI include several cosmetic surgical procedures of head and
neck such as rhytidectomy / facelift, browlift / blepharoplasty, otoplasty,
rhinoplasty, septoplasty, cheek augmentation, chin augmentation, genioplasty,
neck liposuction, hair transplant, lip enhancement, injectable cosmetic
treatments, botox, chemical peel etc. still many of the above invasive
procedures are performed by graduate dentists, allied healthcare professionals,
spa and parlors.
There are workshops and fast track courses which are
conducted almost daily providing certificate to every dentist and allied
professionals to claim themselves as cosmetologists or even trichologists. The
biggest question which should arise among all of us should be how we are
different from quacks, ineligible or
half baked doctors and beauticians who lacks bare minimum knowledge of anatomy,
physiology, pharmacology, emergency management, hardly has undergone any surgical
training and their centres are devoid of standard sterilization and
disinfection protocols, emergency medicines and appropriate surgical
infrastructure.
Such frivolous practice will only bring increased
risks and complications, failures, negative publicity and disrepute to dental
fraternity. It is not a social, mental and financial loss of oral surgeons but
even grave risk to patient’s life and health. It is important that the issue
should be raised globally. The governing council should lay down rules and regulations
to practice aesthetic surgery and hair transplant by the general dentists,
graduates and other professionals who do not have valid medical qualification.
It’s time to see a larger picture. Until and unless
we raise our voice and concerns, request DCI to bring cosmetic surgery and hair
transplant within the four corners of maxillofacial surgical procedures to be
performed by qualified medical doctor/surgeon/oral and maxillofacial surgeon,
lay down strict rules and regulation against short term workshops and courses
for aesthetic surgery, cosmetology, hair transplant to ineligible professionals,
the illegal and unethical practice of cosmetic surgery will keep on rising and
there may be a situation where even deserving qualified doctors are refrained
from practicing this novel art.
Thank you
PS:- This is a public and personal request to all my
fellow oral surgeons to consider this matter and forward it to concerning
authority (DCI, AOMSI, IDA, ISHRS, etc.) and also forward a signed response in
favour /comments on this request to omfsclinics2013@gmail.com
. All your responses will help in fighting for the cause with much strength.