Dr. Skanda Shyamsundar
Dr. Skanda along with a host of dignitaries in the field of plastic surgery, during the debate in TANPAPS 2013
Dr. Skanda and the microsurgical team during a hand revascularization
Dr. Skanda with his teacher and mentor Dr. T. Krishnamurthy
Dr. Skanda Shyamsundar belongs to the newer generation of plastic surgeons. He finished his M.Ch degree in plastic surgery from the prestigiousInstitute for Research and Rehabilitation of Hand and Department of Plastic Surgery, Stanley Medical College, Chennai. He is a medallist at the M.Ch level and has won prizes for best papers at various levels.
He has presented several papers at both national and state level conferences. His work on the versatility of the groin flap in hand surgery earned him a prize in the best paper session in the State Conference of the Tamilnadu and Pondicherry Association of Plastic Surgeons.
He was also theyoungest participant in a debate on "Frontiers of Plastic surgery - expanding or receding?" conducted in TANPAPS 2013, Chennai, along with a galaxy of dignitaries in the field of plastic surgery. He was a part of the faculty of ISSH 2013 - Basic Hand surgery course and chaired sessions in the same.
In addition, he is a recipient of the prestigious Johnstone gold medal for Best Outgoing Student at M.B.B.S level for his batch from Madras Medical College and was the topper for his batch for the entire state at the university level. He has as many as 16 prizes and gold medals in his medical career, and has been an outstanding performer at every level.
He has great interest in Microsurgery and Hand surgery, having been trained in one of the leading centres for the same, viz, Stanley Medical College. He has extensive experience in all forms of microsurgery, and performed a number of successful replantations at varying levels. He was part of a team which performed a successful bilateral hand replant under the auspices of Stanley’s Plastic Surgery department in 2011, a unique event that was reported widely in the media. He also has had extensive exposure to brachial plexus and nerve injuries, and well versed in the latest protocols for the same. Another field in which he has a lot of interest is in microvascular free tissue transfer, and wishes to take it to the next level in his current department. His true passion is in the field ofcancer reconstruction..
Burns reconstruction is a burning issue, literally, for any plastic surgeon today. Dr. Skanda has done a lot of work in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of post burn deformities, especially with regard to complex hand, neck and other deformities. The ultimate goal in the department is to bring back a severely mutilated burns patient back to society as a fully functional member.
The face is the most attractive part of the body which impresses at first sight. Any blemish or a deformity, either acquired, or present at birth produces a discomfort and acts as a social stigma for the patient. To provide a normal looking face without the evidence of the disease or surgery requires tremendous effort. These are the areas where a plastic surgeon can show his commitment and mettle.
Dr. Skanda and the department have done quality work in these fields of facio maxillary, cleft lip and palate surgery.
A growing institute like Kauvery needs a combination of experience, youth, innovation and experimenting minds. The department provides all these features in the right proportions for advancement in plastic surgery in the future years.