IPRAS

Çistory of Plastic Surgery in the Republic of ArmeniaThe history of Plastic Surgery in the Republic of Armeniabegins in 1982. Since 1982, the “Initiative Group”, ateam of young surgeons, started experimental operations.They derived from the ranks of a microsurgery fellowshipin Moscow. They worked in the Armenian branch ofthe All-Union Scientific Center of Surgery. The firstsuccessful clinical operation, was the replantation ofthumb in 1984.In 1984 a division of microsurgery in the Armenianbranch of the All-Union Scientific Center of Surgerywas created by the initiative group. The first operationswere muscle, tendon, vessel and nerve reconstructions ofextremities.In 1985 the first department of Microsurgery wascreated and headed by Artavazd Sahakyan. Later in1992, a second department, the Center of Plastic andReconstructive Surgery was organized and headedby Gagik Stamboltsyan. All surgeons of the seconddepartment completed their specialization period in YaleUniversity.Since 1990 many aesthetic operations take place in theRepublic of Armenia.In 1996 in Yerevan State Medical University andNational Health Institute, two new departments ofPlastic Surgery were organized. They also manage apostgraduate education program. After graduating froma 4 year residency in one of these departments you canget a Plastic Surgeon’s diploma.The Armenian Association of Plastic Reconstructive andAesthetic Surgeons (AAPRAS) was founded in 2005 bythe main Committee (The First RPesident was ArmenHovhannisyan). The greatest part of the Armenian PlasticSurgeons have decided to create this Society, givingpriority to issues like:- coordination of the surgeons’ practicaland scientific work,- promotion of postgraduate education,- unification of educational programs,- organization of International Congresses.During the last period the Association organized fourInternational Congresses, the last of which took placeunder the endorsement of IPRAS and ESPRAS. OurAssociation is in close relationship with the Russian andGeorgian Societies. Our relationship with IPRAS andESPRAS is very productive and highly influential to ouryoung Plastic Surgeons’ education and training in famousEuropean clinics.Nowadays, many Member Surgeons of our Associationwork in aesthetic and reconstructive Surgery Unitsworldwide.In 2013 we are planning an International MultidisciplinaryCongress on Antiaging Medicine and we invite all ourcolleagues to participate in it.Dr. Armen HovhannisyanPresident of AAPRASArmenian Associationof Plastic Reconstructiveand Aesthetic Surgeons(ÁÁPRAS)Issue 7 www.ipras.org IPRAS Journal 83