A 31-year-old member asked:
Could plastic surgery cure leprosy?
5 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in

Dr. Marcus Petersonanswered
Plastic Surgery 37 years experience
Leprosy is bacteria: Leprosy is caused by a bacteria so you can not cure it with plastic surgery. Leprosy can leave some damaged tissue and scars once it is treated and plastic surgery can help in this setting.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed Mar 21, 2021

Dr. Otto Placikanswered
Surgery - Plastics 36 years experience
No but treat complic: Plastic surgery cannot cure leprosy but it can treat complications of leprosy once it is cured.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed Mar 21, 2021

Dr. Jovita Anyanwuanswered
Internal Medicine 32 years experience
No: Leprosy is an infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae that requires long term treatment with more than one antibiotics and sometimes immune suppressives. Treatment should be continued for 6 months to one year or even longer. It is curable and usually will not require surgery
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed Mar 21, 2021

Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 27 years experience
Agree w earlier: responses. About 95% of people have natural immunity to Leprosy. Leprosy is a bacterial infection which is usually treated with combo of antibiotics (dapson, rifampicin or clofazimine.) If the person has been infected for a long time - they may have deformities which could be addressed through plastic surgery.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed Mar 21, 2021

Dr. Larry Nichteranswered
Plastic Surgery 38 years experience
Plastic Surgery cannot cure leprosy but can treat many of the sequelae of leprosy including deformity, and nerve involvement.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered Sep 24, 2021
Last updated Sep 24, 2021
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