VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA, August 21, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- ThreeBestRated^® honoured Dr. Pratap Duggirala from Pratap Hospital as one of the top 3 plastic surgeons in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The recognition reflects his reputation for quality care, patient satisfaction, and professional integrity.

Dr. Pratap shared, “I am not 100% sure, but I have had a couple of patients come to me after hearing that I was rated among the top practitioners on the ThreeBestRated websites. What is most important to me is that I have been recognised as a top-rated practitioner by them. Since 2013, around the time I started my practice in Vijayawada, I believe. They do not charge any money, and they conduct their own survey to identify the best-rated professionals. They do not approach us, and we do not approach them. In that way, I believe they are a genuine company.”

Dr. Pratap Duggirala: From Medical Training to Plastic Surgery

Dr. Pratap Duggirala has earned an MS in General Surgery and an MCh in Plastic Surgery, securing All India Rank 2 in the MCh Plastic Surgery entrance examination. His interest in surgery began during his medical training. After completing his MBBS, he chose General Surgery and, after completing his postgraduate training, explored the different options available for super-specialisation. Plastic and reconstructive surgery stood out to him because of its broad scope and the opportunity to perform procedures involving different parts of the body, from head to toe.

He is the General Secretory of the Association of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeons (APRAS- Andhra Pradesh & Telangana 2026-28) Executive Committee Member of APRAS (2024-26) and an International Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), USA. Dr. Duggirala has also been recognised with India’s Best Doctors Award for Excellence in Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery in Andhra Pradesh and is regularly invited to speak and demonstrate live surgeries at national plastic surgery conferences.

Dr. Duggirala explained, “When I went through all the branches, I felt plastic and reconstructive surgery was the complete surgery for me because here we do everything from head to toe.” With more than 15 years of surgical experience and involvement in over 10,000 procedures, Dr. Duggirala has extensive experience in both reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery. His work covers a wide range of procedures, allowing him to address patients’ concerns with attention to both function and appearance.

The Biggest Misconception About Plastic Surgery

There is also a common misunderstanding about what plastic surgery actually involves. Because cosmetic procedures receive considerable attention in the media, many people tend to associate plastic surgery mainly with cosmetic treatments. Dr. Duggirala points out that cosmetic surgery is only a small part of the specialty.

Dr. Duggirala explains, “People generally think plastic surgery is only cosmetic surgery. But cosmetic surgery is a very small part of plastic surgery. Burns, cleft lip and palate, hand replantation and finger replantation are all part of plastic surgery”.

He believes that greater awareness of these areas is important because many people are still unfamiliar with the role plastic surgeons play in treating serious injuries, restoring function and helping patients recover after burns and other conditions.

Managing Patient Expectations in Plastic Surgery

One of the challenges Dr. Duggirala sees in his practice is managing the expectations patients bring with them. With the amount of information, and sometimes misinformation, available on social media, patients may arrive with expectations that are difficult to meet.

Dr. Duggirala believes, “People come to us with very high expectations because of what they see on social media. It is very difficult to satisfy a patient when the expectations are already so high. So we always try to bring them back to reality and explain what is realistically possible”.

He compares his approach to building a house: “If I can build a 4-storey house, I will promise them only a 3-storey house. There is no point in promising a 5-storey house, delivering 4 storeys and then disappointing the patient.”

For Dr. Duggirala, setting realistic expectations is an essential part of responsible patient care.

Dr. Duggirala’s Memorable Replantation Case

Among the many surgeries Dr. Duggirala has performed, one case from the early years of his practice in Andhra Pradesh remains particularly memorable. In 2015, he received a call late in the evening about a woman who had suffered a severe road traffic accident in which her entire upper limb had been severed above the elbow.

A doctor who was familiar with Dr. Duggirala’s experience in complex replantation surgery contacted him and arranged for the patient to be brought to his hospital. She arrived at around 10:30 p.m., and the surgical team immediately began the lengthy procedure. The first stage of the surgery continued until around 6 a.m. After a break, the team resumed the operation at about 11 a.m. and completed it around 3 p.m.

“Even after so many years, that case remains memorable to me. We have done many below-elbow replantations, and at our institute we currently perform around two to three finger replantations every month. But that was the first, and as far as I know, still the only successful above-elbow replantation in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,” Dr. Duggirala said.

This case reflects the complex nature of reconstructive plastic surgery, where the goal is not simply to restore appearance but, whenever possible, to restore the function of an injured body part and give the patient an opportunity to return to everyday life.

Dr. Duggirala’s Vision for Pratap Hospital

Dr. Pratap Duggirala completed his MCh in Plastic Surgery at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi, one of India’s largest central government hospitals. He later returned to Andhra Pradesh and began his career at NRI Medical College, where he helped establish the Department of Plastic Surgery and currently serves as Professor and Head of the Department.

“I wanted to set up a complete institute of plastic surgery where everything, including cosmetic surgery and replantation, could be provided under one roof,” he said.

This vision led to the establishment of Pratap Hospital, dedicated primarily to plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Unlike a conventional multispecialty hospital, where plastic surgery is one department among many, Pratap Hospital was designed with plastic and cosmetic surgery as its central focus.

“When we built it, the idea was to have a 50- to 100-bed hospital dedicated to plastic and cosmetic surgery. Other departments may be involved when their expertise is needed for certain cases, but our core focus is plastic and reconstructive surgery,” Dr. Duggirala explained.

Common Procedures at Pratap Hospital

At Pratap Hospital, Dr. Duggirala and his team handle a wide range of cosmetic procedures, non-surgical aesthetic treatments, and reconstructive procedures including,

>> Abdominal Liposuction
>> Gynecomastia Surgery
>> Hair Transplantation
>> Botox
>> Dermal Fillers
>> Hand Injury and Surgery
>> Burn Injury

The Future of Plastic Surgery in India

Dr. Duggirala believes that the next 5 to 10 years will bring significant growth in the field of aesthetic plastic surgery in India. As more people become willing to spend on cosmetic procedures, there is increasing investment in research, technology and equipment.

He points out that this is already visible in the rapid development of aesthetic technologies. New laser systems are being introduced for treatments such as skin brightening, skin tightening and body contouring. Liposuction has also evolved considerably, moving from traditional manual techniques to suction-assisted, power-assisted and now laser-assisted procedures.

“People are now willing to spend more on their aesthetic needs. Because patients are willing to spend, companies are investing more in research and doctors are also investing in new equipment,” Dr. Duggirala explained.

He gives the example of his own hospital, where he has invested more than ₹1 crore in liposuction equipment alone. For him, this reflects the growing demand for aesthetic procedures and the willingness of both doctors and patients to invest in newer technologies.

As the field continues to evolve, Dr. Duggirala expects aesthetic plastic surgery to become an increasingly important part of India’s medical landscape. At the same time, reconstructive surgery will remain a vital part of the specialty, particularly in treating burns, hand injuries, and other complex conditions. To get in touch with him, visit prataphospital.com.

Dr. Pratap Duggirala
Pratap Hospital
+91 87120 22521
info@prataphospital.com
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