7 days ago
PGI raises awareness about skin donation
Chandigarh: On the eve of World Plastic Surgery Day, the department of plastic surgery at PGI organised a skin donation awareness symposium to raise awareness about the critical role of skin donation in burn care.
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The event also celebrated the wider mission of plastic surgery in restoring, reconstructing, and rebuilding lives.
The day is observed on July 15 every year as a tribute to the specialty's transformative power. While often misunderstood as purely cosmetic, plastic surgery is deeply rooted in reconstructive work — addressing complex challenges like severe burns, traumatic injuries, congenital anomalies, facial reconstruction, hand surgery, and post-cancer reconstruction.
The specialty operates at the intersection of form and function, helping patients regain not just their physical appearance, but also dignity, confidence, and quality of life.
Speaking about the event, Dr Atul Parashar, head of the plastic surgery department, highlighted how PGI consistently led advancements in burn care, skin banking, and reconstructive surgery. He said a major gap persists in the availability of donated skin — a resource that is often the difference between life and death for patients with major burns.
He informed that donated skin acts as a temporary biological dressing — protecting raw wounds, minimising fluid loss, preventing infection, and allowing time for healing or further surgery.
Yet, despite the need, awareness about skin donation remains limited, particularly in India.
Dr Parmod Kumar, nodal officer of PGI Skin Bank, said more than 250 nursing officers of PGI participated in the symposium. He added that the symposium aimed to bridge this knowledge gap by engaging ICU and trauma nursing officers, who are often the first point of contact for families of potential donors.
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Through technical sessions and practical demonstrations, participants gained insights into how skin banks function, how donation and preservation are carried out, and how to approach grieving families with empathy and clarity.
"Skin donation, much like organ donation, is a gift of life — and every healthcare worker can be a catalyst for that gift," said Dr Parashar.
QUOTE
A major gap persists in the availability of donated skin — a resource that is often the difference between life and death for patients with major burns. Donated skin acts as a temporary biological dressing — protecting raw wounds, minimising fluid loss, preventing infection, and allowing time for healing or further surgery. Yet, despite the need, awareness about skin donation remains limited, particularly in India
Dr Atul Parashar, head of the department of plastic surgery, PGI
