Mumbai: A cosmetic outpatient department (OPD) — the first of its kind in the state — will soon be started at the state-run JJ Hospital. The cosmetic OPD will cater the needs of poor and needy, especially cancer patients and acid attack victims and its services will be carried out free of cost under government-approved schemes. The procedures, techniques and principles of cosmetic surgery are entirely focused on enhancing patients’ appearances, said a medico at the hospital.

Cosmetic surgery is an expensive affair since India has few cosmetologists and equipment is also costly. 

Dr Chandrakant Gharwade, head of the plastic surgery department of JJ Hospital, said, “Mostly, we have people coming from rural areas.”

He added, “Cosmetic surgery is specialty dedicated to reconstruction of facial and body defects due to birth disorders, trauma, burns, and disease or acid injuries.”

He added, “In privately-run hospitals treatment costs lakhs and poor people are unable to take advantage of it. So, to cater the needs of certain types of patients, a cosmetic OPD will be soon started at the Sir JJ Group of Hospitals.”

The OPD will be started to change the perception of people regarding cosmetic surgeries. Also, patients will be counselled for the same. The procedures include rhinoplasty, chin, or cheek enhancement and so on.