On Saturday, 25 May 2025, nearly 100 medical students came together for Sculpt & Suture: Surgery and Aesthetics Innovation — an immersive, hands-on conference hosted by the PRAS Society at the University of Buckingham. With six CPD points approved by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, four specialised surgical workshops, and a sold-out auditorium, the event provided a unique platform to explore the evolving world of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery (PRAS).
Whether attendees joined us for the sutures, the speakers, or (let’s be honest) the food — we’re incredibly grateful they chose to spend their Saturday expanding their skills and networks in the field of surgery.
Feedback Highlights
From hands-on suturing to high-level discussions on reconstructive pathways, the event left a lasting impact. Based on feedback collected from attendees:
🧠 Educational Impact:
- Hands-On Skill Development: 96.9% felt they developed practical skills through the workshops
- Suturing Techniques: 96.9% improved their knowledge of both basic and advanced techniques
- Microsurgery Knowledge: 87.5% deepened their understanding of microsurgical principles
- Reconstructive Decision-Making: 87.5% gained valuable insights into PRAS approaches
- Clinical Case Insight: 93.8% better understood real-world PRAS applications
- Surgical Portfolio Building: 92.1% felt more confident navigating their surgical career paths
- Networking & Peer Engagement: 95.3% connected with like-minded peers and professionals
What Students Had to Say
Feedback went beyond numbers — students spoke about how the day genuinely impacted them:
“Loved presenting my work. Everyone was so friendly and it wasn’t intimidating like I thought it would be.”
“Definitely the hands-on workshops — they were a great experience. I also really enjoyed presenting my poster and having the chance to talk about it. It was very rewarding and gave me more confidence.”
“I loved the seamless coordination between the executives. It’s hard to pull off something like this, and they did it so effortlessly. I truly appreciated their bond with the speakers and their dedication to the whole event.”
“The catering was delicious — I was so glad that all allergens and dietary preferences were thoughtfully catered to.”
Highlights of the Day
🔹 Talks from leading surgeons including Dr Hasti T Nader, Dr Hiroki Kodama, Dr Avinash Deodhar, and Dr Tahir Ali
🔹 Four interactive workshops: Basic Suturing, Advanced Suturing, Microsurgery, and Burns Management
🔹 A national abstract and poster competition judged by experienced consultants
The conference was crafted to not only develop practical surgical abilities but also spark innovation within the fields of aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. Students participated in high-fidelity workshops covering areas like aesthetic suturing and burns/inhalation injury care, giving them exposure to real-life clinical challenges. Beyond technical skills, the event also explored the breadth of modern surgical careers—highlighting speakers who balance impactful NHS work with thriving private practices. Through this mix of hands-on training, academic presentations, and inspirational talks, Sculpt & Suture aimed to empower the next generation of surgical pioneers.
A Thank You
This event wouldn’t have been possible without:
- Our outstanding speakers, judges, and workshop leads
- The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh for CPD approval
- Our hardworking PRAS Executive Committee: Aditya Menon, Aanchal Madhok, Aryan Sharma, Aditya Bose-Mandal, Ishan Paranjape
- And our incredible volunteer team
Competition Winners
🏆 Overall Abstract Winners: Farah Sary & Ceren Koc
🏆 Best Presenter: Jessica Obatolu
🏆 Best Poster: Maryam Mufida Abdulkadir
🏆 Phase One Medical Student of the Day: Aditya Mehrotra
🏆 Phase Two Medical Student of the Day: Dhriti Mandal
If we made a difference for even one attendee — whether through a skill learned, a connection made, or a new spark of inspiration — then every ounce of effort was worth it.
We hope to welcome you again at our future PRAS events. Until then — keep learning, stay curious, and don’t forget to suture.
– Raghav Sharma
President, PRAS Society