LAHORE: While there is a divided approach in women taking care of their skin as an integral part of their lifestyle, internationally trained Dr Osman Bashir Tahir says, not just women but even men need to groom their skins right from an early age as our bodies are our home to clean. During my short but highly informative tête-à-tête with the acclaimed dermatologist and plastic surgeon, I inquired about the reason behind several people packing their suitcases for getting their plastic surgeries done from abroad and going under the hammer for their bodies. We wonder if there’s a dearth of able or trusted doctors present here in Pakistan for people to line up for their surgeries and restructuring. “There is a dearth of qualified and credible doctors for sure. Some of the self proclaimed plastic surgeons have truly messed up with their clients and have ruined their operations. It’s a small world. Word gets around, and so people stop trusting local doctors completely. Such doctors tarnish the repute of even the most credible ones and so I don’t blame the people who go abroad for their surgeries,” Dr Osman says. The young and ambitious Lahore-based doctor is a highly qualified and a reputable figure in today’s era of plastic surgery, where the very word of it is a hushed affair. Women want to credit their restructured nose or lips or firm cheeks to natural beauty and never truly reveal they went under the hammer or applied an injection for it. However, given a trustworthy and a credible doctor with a clean repute and image, who wouldn’t want to credit their surgeries to the appropriate source? Specialising in both face and body skin treatments, Dr Osman says the most challenging surgery he ever had to do was treat a child’s burnt skin, which was a hands down successful operation at the end of the day. We wonder if the botox and plastic surgery culture should be supported or discouraged. After all, we do have to educate our children and especially daughters to embrace and love their looks, rather than playing with their features. Is it even ethical? “Winning the trust of the client is the most important thing. I’m not here to rip people off. I’m here to help. If I feel like there is nothing wrong with a person’s nose, lips or any other feature, it’s my job to tell them so and make them feel confident about their looks instead. Also, I have personally experienced, women coming to me and telling me that they haven’t told their parents or spouses about their prospective surgeries and would keep it under wraps post the procedure. That is another time, when I am firm with them and politely tell them to inform their families or whoever and not keep it a secret from them,” Dr Osman says. He has years of experience to his credit, and deals all clients with passion, perseverance and patience. Amidst all the energy and enthusiasm that Dr Osman exudes in his aura, tales about his private practise going from strength to strength over the years owing to his intellect, skill and knowledge, there is a hidden and a somewhat underlying promise of plastic surgery and skin treatment to skyrocket and revolutionise in Pakistan in the coming years with immense contributions by Dr Osman. Published in Daily Times, September 6th 2017.