Reputed Plastic Surgeons Perform “Squid Job” on Giant Squid

Posted on 16. Jul, 2010 by admin2 in Surgical Procedures

Plastic surgeons are constantly testing the borders of their profession and trying to raise the bar just a little bit. This means that they will constantly try out new procedures, no matter what they are, in order to make sure that they are on top of their game. In one of the most bizarre procedures to have been performed by trained cosmetic surgeons, the procedure performed on the Pacific Giant Squid most definitely requires attention.

In order to become a successful plastic surgeon, one must undergo years of rigorous training to ensure that nothing goes wrong during surgery. A group of three plastic surgeons recently put all their years of training to the test when they operated on the 12-foot giant squid, giving it a “Squid-o-plasty” so to speak. This plastic surgery procedure went a long way towards the understanding of this magnificent creature.

The 12-foot Giant Squid that these surgeons operated on had a number of battle wounds that were acquired during its life. The squid also had its head severed, which had to be reattached. On the 28^th of May, this team of professionals gathered around a stainless steel table in Charleston, Oregon to operate on the gelatinous body of the squid.

This interesting and unusual plastic surgery was an attempt by the OIMB or the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology to create an attraction for the up and coming Charleston Marine Life Center. This Charleston Marine Life Center is a museum cum aquarium that will cover 6000 square feet and the center of attention at the Center will be this giant squid, preserved in formalin.

The whole plan to perform this operation was orchestrated by Craig Young, who is the director of the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology and he ensured that only the best doctors were appointed for this momentous task. The surgery was performed by Dr. Ernie Manders along with his colleagues Dr. Galen Wachtman and Dr. Christine Fisher. All three doctors come from the highly reputed University of Pittsburgh, where they are professors.

Dr. Manders’ association with the OIMB started with his research on the unique ability of some marine creatures to regenerate limbs. Possibly the most notable of these are sea stars, which can grow any limb that has been cut off. Manders believes that this research of can lead to some incredible medical advancements, which includes instant conductivity for nerves after a transplant.  According to Dr. Manders, the nerve physiology of these creatures is the same as that of a human being.

Therefore, Dr. Manders was the perfect choice for the squid procedure. The task at hand was to repair the gashes that were sustained when fishermen caught the creature. According to Young, “It occurred to me we might be able to get some free service out of him (Dr. Manders) as a plastic surgeon,”

The whole procedure of reconstruction of the squid took under two hours and the end result was that the 12-foot Pacific Giant Squid managed to regain its head and was finally fitted together like pieces of a puzzle.