The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Doctors don’t encourage cosmetic surgery
Neelam Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24
A normal married middle-class woman, in her 20s, walked into the PGI's Plastic Surgery Department's OPD with a peculiar problem. She believed that her lips were a little thick and wanted to make them thinner. Not convinced by the reason, the surgeon tried to find if someone was accompanying the woman. Then emerged her husband who agreed with his wife that if her lips are made thinner by surgery, many of their problems will be solved. Still not convinced that the woman should go for cosmetic surgery, the surgeon refuses to operate and gives three months' time to the couple to rethink their decision.

In search of chiselled features and perfect looks the young girls, and some boys too, are looking for avenues to cover up their "facial flaws'' — with many knocking at doors of the Plastic Surgery Department of the PGI here.

But after coming across many persons "trying to find solutions to their other problems through the cosmetic surgery," the doctors have preferred to tread cautiously.

Trying not to encourage "the cosmetic makeover," they are making the patient sit with the counsellor to see if their requirement is genuine.

"Though the demand of cosmetic surgery is huge, we are not taking up more than 15 cases every year. That too only if the parents come forward to give consent in case of the surgery of unmarried persons and the spouse approves the surgery of a married person" says Dr R.K. Sharma, Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery at the PGI.

The reason for taking up limited cases, he says, is purely academic as, Dr Sharma feels, his resident doctors need to learn all the skills.

"We feel that the real challenge for the plastic surgeon is the transplant surgeries, that is to reconstruct the damaged portions. But cosmetic surgeries are a dicey affair as patients try to achieve many things through a simple surgery," adds Dr Sharma.

The surgeons refuse to operate in those cases where the patients feel that "a change in the shape of a nose or lips would change their lives'' but take up a case where the expectations are more realistic.

"We have a number of patients who are not happy with the shape of their noses. Some find them humped (parrot like), while others think that theirs is very broad. We have treated both the cases successfully here but have to say no to those who come with a filmstar's photograph and ask us to give their noses the shape as that of those stars," says the doctor.

Altering the natural features is still a luxury the world over and surgeons at the PGI aren't going to reverse the trend.

"At the PGI, where charges are nominal, we get patients from all socio-economic groups who have their own justifications for giving their features a desired look.

But our priority remains the treatment of critical cases first and not to encourage the cosmetic surgeries," sums up Dr Sharma.

12 star blood donors honoured
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24
Motivated to help those in need, the 12 star donors honoured by the UT’s State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) today had a suggestion for those who have never ventured out to donate. It is only lack of awareness which leads to unnecessary fears about donating blood, they say.

The 10 donors, who had donated blood more than 100 times in their lives, two women donors, who have donated more than 50 times, and around 1000 other voluntary donors were honoured at the ceremony jointly organised by the SBTC in collaboration with blood banks of the PGI, General Hospital, Sector 16, and the GMCH Sector 32, by the PGI Director, Prof K.K. Talwar, at the PGI today.

Sharing his joy with The Tribune after receiving the honours, Charanjit Singh, with 157 donations, who is leading the donors with 157 donations in the city said, “I donated blood for the first time during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war and since then I have been a regular donor.” While there was adequate level of awareness in the cities about voluntary blood donations, rural areas needed motivation and better blood banks.

For Harish Sharma who had donated 143 times, it has become more like a hobby since 1970. “My blood group is O negative, which is a rare group. I was motivated by doctors to donate blood regularly,’’ said Sharma, a teacher by profession.

Equally delighted was Prag Raj Sharma, with 135 donations to his credit. For him, blood donation began in 1976 literally by accident. “I was studying in the college when I spotted a couple with their child profusely bleeding after hit by a vehicle in Sector 16. I took them to the hospital where the doctors asked me to donate blood for them.’’ Since then he has maintained his routine of donating blood four times a year.

Satyapal Bansal, Branch Manager in the SBI here, with 117 donations said, “To me, donating blood is easier than giving water to a needy person as the lost blood is created fast in the body.’’ According to him, motivation for voluntary blood donations should begin at the school-level to imbibe a culture among the youngsters.

Defying the prevailing notion that women become weak if they donate blood on regular basis, Dr Usha Rao, from the faculty the Department of Transfusion Medicine, PGI, said iron rich diet can make donations possible. “I have been donating blood since college days. Being near to patients and witnessing tragedies in the hospital, I was motivated to donate blood regularly,” said Dr Rao, who has donated blood 65 times. Harkiran Kaur, who donated blood 58 times was also honoured at the ceremony.

Other star donors included Arun Aggarwal, (137 donations) Rajinder Garg, (120) Lakshinder Goyal and Reet MP Singh, (111 each) Parveen Modgil (106) and Janak Raj Grover (103).

Institutions including Punjab Engineering College, Sector 12, DAV College, Sector 10, DC Model School, Panchkula, Baba Shiekh Farid Trust, the Shri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation were also awarded for holding blood donation camps.

Super MRI scanner
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24
The region’s first 32X8 channel 1.5 tesla superconductive TIM technology MRI scanner was installed at a Sector 8 CT scan centre here today.

The Managing Director of the Centre, Dr S.P. S. Chawla, said with the new machine the MRI scans of the complete body could be done without the need for repeated repositioning of the patients or the coils. “This is possible because of the innovative matrix receive coils.

This facility is not available in the existing low field strength MRI machines. The time taken for conducting the scan is also reduced to half,’’ Dr Chawla claimed.

Table soccer tourney concludes
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, October 24
The first National Table Soccer Championship concluded at The Gurukul, Sector 20, Panchkula, today. The two-day meet was organised by the Haryana Table Soccer Federation under the aegis of the Table Soccer Federation of India.

Mr Sanjay Thareja, president of the Haryana Unit of Federation, said more than 170 players in both boys and girls sections took part in the tournament.

Mr Ravinder Talwar, secretary, Chandigarh Olympic Association was the chief guest and awarded the prizes to the winners.

Results (Final):

Mixed Doubles Under-14: (1)Shubanker and Sukoon (Haryana), (2)Harvinder and Sahiba (Chandigarh), (3)Sarmeet and Sakshi (DPS)

Singles Under-14 Girls: (1)Jasleen (Chd), (2) Neetu (Haryana), (3)Twinkle (Haryana).

Under-12 Girls Singles: (1)Ravleen (Chandigarh), (2) Rishita(Haryana), (3)Twinkle (Haryana).

Under-17 Girls Singles: (1) Shikha Sharma (Haryana), (2)Nikita (DPS), (3)Swati (Chd).

Under-19 Girls Singles: (1)Jasmeet (Punjab)1, (2) Ritika (Haryana), (3)Isha (Chd). Under-14 Boys Doubles: (1)Shubhankar & Hargun (The Gurukul), (2) Abhishek & Karun(DPS), (3)Rupinder & Sameer (AKSIPS).

Under-19 Girls Doubles:(1)Jasleen & Ragini (Pb), (2)Isha & Sabneet (Chd).

Under-17 Girls Singles: (1)Rajinder Johal (Chd), (2) Sonia, (3) Alisa (Chd).Under-12 Boys Doubles Group A: (1)Karan & Mohnish (DPS), (2)Manjeet & Aman (The Gurukul), (3)Manpreet Singh & Harvinder (Chd).

Under -12 Boys Doubles Group B: (1)Sumeet & Abhilesh (AKSIPS), (2)Dipin & Gaurav (The Gurukul), (3)Ashish & Samarth (The Gurukul) .

Under-17 Boys: (1)Nishan & Mohit (Satluj), (2)Sohit and Aman (HP) , (3)Hemant & Paranav (The Gurukul)3.

Above-19 Mixed Doubles:Seniors: (1)Sukhjeevan Sharma & Sonika (Haryana), (2)Brij Pal & Archana (Chd) , (3)Bhagwan Dev & Reema (HP). Above-19: Women:(1) Sonika (Haryana), (2)Reema (HP), (3)Archna .

Doubles under-14 Girls: (1)Khushboo & Sahiba (Chd), (2)Ravleen & Ramya (Chd) , (3) Nitika & Neetu (Haryana)3.

Doubles under-19 Boys: (1) Varun & Harma (Chd), (2)Gagan & Ramandeep , (3) Uday & Rishabh.

Singles Under-14 Boys: (1)Maninder (Chd), (2) Shubham (Pb), (3)Rishabh Dev(Raj)

Singles Above-19 Men:(1) Mandeep Singh1, (2) Kuljinder Singh (Pb), (3)Amrinder (Haryana).

Doubles Boys Under-14: (1) Harpreet & Khush (The Gurukul), (2)Kohit & Ashish (HP), (3)Jatin & Brijender (Har) .

Doubles Boys Under-17 Group B: (1)Ravinder & Ashish(Hry), (2)Gurjot & Manraj (Chd) , (3)Anand & Rizul (Raj) .Singles under -14 Girls: (1)Richa (Chd) , (2)Chetna (Har).

YPS cagers clobber St Joseph’s
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, October 24
Yadavindra Public School, Mohali, trounced St Joseph's School, Sector 38, by 36-17 ( Boys Section) on the second day of the Rao Jai Singh Memorial Basketball Tournament held here today at the New Public School, Sector 18.

For YPS, Harman scored 10, Gurwinder eight and Ajay Pal six points. In other Boys Section matches of the day, Police DAV School, Amritsar, beat SD Public School, Sector 32, by 79-54, DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, defeated Shivalik Public School by 68-46 while New Public School, Sector 18 downed Shishu Niketan School, Sector 22, by 48-22.

Bhavan Vidyalya win

Bhawan Vidyalya, Sector 15, Panchkula and Guru Harkishan Public School won their respective matches in the Blessed Edmund Rice Cricket Tournament played here today at the St John's High School, Sector 26.

Brief scores;GNP School-36: 72 runs all out (Amarpal 22, Madhur 3 for 11). BV-Pkl:74 runs for seven in 13 overs (Madhur 19, Himanshu 2 for 12)

2nd Tie: St Mary's:74 runs all out (Harminder 4 for 22, Ravi 3 for six, Anmol 2 for 13). GHPS-75 runs for seven in 14 overs (Gagan 3 for 17, Manpreet 3 for 11).

ITC XI win

Riding on the superb all-round performance by Amit Bhardwaj and Narinder Walia, the International Testing Centre XI thrashed the Nestle XI by 28 runs to romp home in the finals of the Second United India Cup Inter-Institutional Cricket Tournament at the PCA Stadium, Mohali, today.

Amit scored 42 runs and claimed three wickets for just 17 runs. His effort was complemented by Narinder Walia's healthy score of 39.

The prizes were sponsored by Punjab National Bank. Brief scores: ITC XI:231 runs for nine (Amit 42, Umesh 38, Narinder Walia 39, Kulwinder 26, Vaneet 22, Sanjay 3 for 41, Kulbir 3 for 32,Pawan 2 for 28).

Nestle XI:203 runs all out for 36.5 overs (Rajiv 44, Pawan 39, Arpinder Bedi 26, Amit 3 for 17, Ajay 3 for 19, Kulwinder 2 for 21).

Roller Bones drub Chandigarh A
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, October 24
The Roller Bones Skating club overpowered Chandigarh 'A' 8-6 in the Roller Hockey event (Senior Sction) on the second day of the St Xavier's Skating Carnival held here today at the Skating Rink, Sector 10.

In the Junior Section, AKSIPS, Sector 41, beat St Stephen's Club, Sector 45, by 6-4, while in the Sub-Junior Section, Guru Harkishan School defeated KB DAV School, Sector 7, by 4-3.

Results: winners; speed; Rink race II boys-Pratyush; girls-Gurveen.

4-6 yrs: Aryan; girls-Hasmeet; 6-8 yrs-boys-Ashdeep; girls-Apruva;

8-10 yrs: Anshul; girls-Darshvinder;10-12 yrs: Mayank; girls-Kalki;

12-14 yrs: boys-Gaurav.