Giving Succour to Trauma Injury Victims through Cosmetic Surgery

For many Nigerians the brand Sosoliso brings back awful memories after one of its planes crashed on 10 December 2005, recording 107 deaths and only one survivor, Kechi Okwuchi with third degree burns.

Thanks to the medical science of cosmetic surgery, victims of trauma injuries like Okwuchi are alive. Despite this, surgeons have lamented that cosmetic surgery is still not popular in Nigeria for many reasons, including lack of awareness. It is the kind of surgery that helps to protect the self-esteem and emotional state of victims of accidents.

This was according to a Surgeon, Skin101 Centre, Dr. Babangida Sankey in a recent interview. “In some cases, victims of trauma injuries find it difficult to go about their normal lives as they sometimes slip into low self-esteem which may even lead to depression.”

He emphasised that a person with high levels of insecurity may often experience a lack of confidence regarding many aspects of life. “It may be difficult for that person to form lasting relationships or attend to daily tasks, due to a self-perception of helplessness or inadequacy.”

Today, however, Sankey expressed that victims of accidents of all kinds can now get reconstructive surgeries that attempt to fix their appearances.

He listed the benefits of reconstructive surgery including to correct deformities created by birth defects, burn injuries, trauma, or medical conditions like cancer, following a lumpectomy or mastectomy for breast cancer.

For the surgery, it is a possibility to get procedures that can repair physical damages, adding, he said “Thanks to advancement in technology, issues like this can be fixed.

Meanwhile, Sankey harped on the importance to always check out the portfolio, and success rate of your doctor when opting for reconstructive procedures. He cautioned Nigerians to avoid quacks, who do more harm to them than good.

With this, he hinted that many Nigerians are oblivious of certified centres to receive such kinds of surgeries. “The Skin101 Centre is one of such facilities that offer these kinds of services.

“Shelved in the heart of Abuja, Skin101 Centre is a full spectrum cosmetic medical centre with a dermatology clinic, plastic surgery unit, and medical spa, and specialises in correcting anomalies.”

Also echoing the surgeon’s words is the Lead Aesthetic Physician, Skin101 Centre, Dr. Hilda Titiloye. She outlined the significance of only visiting qualified and experienced doctors. Her words: “The qualifications of the doctors you are entrusting your body with is as important as the procedure itself.”

While conceding that some of the processes are quite delicate, she warned that if not handled properly, some trauma cases could get worse than the initial state.
“That is why at The Skin101 Centre, the doctors are put under critical training even after obtaining certifications to ensure the highest success rates possible.”