Delhi hosts 15th edition of plastic surgeons' world congress

World-renowned plastic surgeons from across 75 countries today got together here for a knowledge sharing and scientific exchange summit, which India is hosting after 22 years.

Inaugurating the 15th World Congress of International Confederation of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (IPRAS), Delhi health minister Kiran Walia said people, especially women, with cleft lips palates are often secluded from society and plastic surgery offers them hope.

"Absolute importance is to be given to reconstructive surgery as incidents of domestic violence, acid attacks and accidents are rising. Now, more women are coming forward to undergo the surgery rather than going into hiding," she said.

The week-long congress will bring together some world renowned experts in the field of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery like Fu-Chan Wei from Taiwan (hand and microsurgery expert), Brian Kinney from US (anti-ageing and minimal invasive rejuvenation procedures), Daniel Marchac from France (plastic surgery on the face) and Carlos Oscar Uebel from Brazil (specialist in hair transplantation).

Also a humanitarian programme -- 'Women for Women' where foreign women plastic surgeons will treat underprivileged Indian women patients suffering from disfiguring -- will be launched during the summit. India last hosted the IPRAS summit in 1987 in New Delhi (9th IPRAS).