Plastic surgeons continue to contribute to the treatment of earthquake victims

"We sent more than 65 volunteer plastic surgeons on a rotating basis to the provinces affected by the earthquake. We tried to support the doctors in the region 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

"Sometimes these were not procedures that could be completed with a single surgery; additional surgeries were required. We organize their transfer to hospitals in larger cities and continue their treatment processes."

President of the Turkish Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Prof. Dr. Cenk Demirdöver stated that plastic surgeons made a significant contribution to the treatment of disaster victims pulled out of the rubble and said that the treatment process of earthquake victims who underwent surgery continues.

Demirdöver stated to the AA correspondent that their associations held an urgent meeting and determined a strategy after the earthquakes on February 6, centered in Kahramanmaraş.

Demirdover said that on the first day, they sent both a plastic surgery team and medical supplies, devices and surgical tools that might be needed to the region, and noted that they sent volunteer plastic surgeons from different provinces to earthquake zones every day, with the knowledge of the Ministry of Health.

Emphasizing that the physicians assist the physicians both in field hospitals and in hospitals operating in the surrounding provinces that were not affected by the earthquake, Demirdöver said:

"In major disasters such as earthquakes, people who are trapped under the rubble and whose arms or legs are stuck in the debris after being pulled out of the rubble have circulation problems. This circulation needs to be loosened. In the first place, these relaxation surgeries were performed. Not only that, but we had patients who had facial bone fractures, where the ends of the bones were exposed, and the top had to be covered with microsurgical methods. A lot of surgeries have been done, including these types of surgeries."

- "Our surgeons played an active role in the treatment process in earthquake zones"

Pointing out the importance of rapid intervention, Demirdöver said, "Our plastic surgeons played an active role in the treatment process in earthquake zones. We have alternately dispatched more than 65 volunteer plastic surgeons to the provinces affected by the earthquake. We tried to support the physicians in the region 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

Explaining that the disaster victims who underwent major operations were followed up, Demirdöver continued his words as follows:

"Sometimes these were not procedures that would end with a single surgery, additional surgeries were required. We organize their referral to hospitals in bigger cities and continue their treatment processes. When it comes to plastic surgery, our people mostly interpret plastic surgery. Plastic surgery: We perform all interventions that deal with the entire outer surface of our body, both the head, neck area and extremities (limbs) as plastic surgeries. Hand surgery and microsurgeries are also sub-branches of plastic surgery."