TIME FOR GOOD LOOKS!

DR. DEBRAJ SHOME

The Cosmopolitan team decided to meet up with a star doctor! The Mumbai based charming numero uno Facial Plastic Surgeon DR. DEBRAJ SHOME believes transformation of the face can cause transformation of the soul!

By Priyanka Vora; Photographs by Sanjeev Desai

When Dr. Debraj Shome walked into the Cosmo office, many of the interns were incredulous, the resume, the age and the looks of the man just do not seem to match! Most doctors are reserved, but Debraj was almost casual as he walked in, in a dapper tweed jacket. Start asking him questions and he transforms into a veritable dynamo of energy. You immediately know why he is as successful at a young age, as he is! “Facial Plastic Surgery is what I always wanted to do”, says Debraj. “It is immensely satisfying to be able to change the faces of people. Some people have deformities or have had bad accidents and it is amazing to have the ability to give them the opportunity to look as they did, prior to the trauma. Others are just very unhappy with the way they look and in such cases, changing the way they look completely changes their self esteem and makes them different people even, as they start to become more confident. So, in some ways, we operate on faces, but we transform minds; we change faces, but we transform lives”. The look of delight is palpable on his face and you immediately know why this mid 30’s surgeon has been awarded for his skills by none other than the erstwhile Honorable President of India Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam.

So, can every facial deformity be changed through plastic surgery? Also, is plastic surgery really like shown in the movies, can a totally different person emerge from behind the bandages? “Well, plastic surgery is more predictable today than it has ever been in the history of mankind, but having said that, it does not mean that we are GOD! Technology has improved so much with Botox, Fillers and lasers that we do not even need to perform surgery many times now, non surgical therapy is sufficient. Sometimes, in case of major deformities, we can only correct partly. Also, with great power comes great responsibility – An ethical surgeon must make it clear to patients what is possible and what is not.”

So, what does one need to be a great plastic surgeon? “A great plastic surgeon is a combination of a great artist and a great technician”, he says. Debraj admits that “both the right and the left parts of the brain need to work in a great plastic surgeon, he must be able to visualize the aesthetic curves in his mind’s eye really well.”

46 yr old lady                                                                 Post facelift

Point taken. So, does Debraj like to perform cosmetic surgeries on celebrities or does he like to perform reconstructive surgery for burns, accidents et al? Debraj decides to go the politically correct way. “Each have their own advantages and challenges. Celebrities can need a lot of hand holding, while reconstructive surgery can be tougher in terms of skill required.” Very diplomatic indeed.

How does he provide more information to the lay public? “I have started a website www.theestheticclinic.com so that people can read about many issues they face in their lives and find a solution through plastic surgery for them. I also blog and tweet regularly.”

I turn the conversation onto something more personal. How does this surgeon look so fresh and like a million bucks? “I have myriad interests. I have been an athlete all my life, been a professional bodybuilder and am now an active squash player. Fitness, for me, is a way of life.” That is incredible, I tell him. But, how does he get time for all this, being so busy?  “For me, it is all about being in the moment, you work out the hardest you can, when you work out and do the best surgery when you are doing surgery. It is about maximizing life.” So, what does the future hold? “Better research, better care and better results.” What about modeling or acting? Debraj roars out with laughter. “I did do some modeling when I was younger, but for now, no such plans. I would rather be a decent looking doctor than be a bad looking actor.”