Some surgeons choose plastic surgery for the glamour. Prof. Dr. Saeed Ashraf Cheema chose it for the burns ward.
Early in his career, while most of his peers gravitated toward the high-profile world of cosmetic procedures, Dr. Cheema walked into the Allied Burn & Reconstructive Surgery Centre in Faisalabad — and decided to stay. What he saw there changed everything: children with scarred faces who couldn’t go to school. Workers with fused fingers who couldn’t earn a living. Women who hadn’t looked in a mirror in years.
He didn’t just treat their wounds. He rebuilt their lives. And in doing so, he became one of Pakistan’s most respected authorities in both reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery — a surgeon equally at home restoring function to a burn survivor’s hand as he is refining the profile of a rhinoplasty patient.
Over 36 years, he has led Plastic Surgery departments at the most prestigious teaching hospitals in Punjab — including Mayo Hospital, SIMS, PGMI, LGH, WAPDA Teaching Hospital, and Faisalabad Medical University. He has served as a Reconstructive Surgeon at Mayo Hospital’s Maxillofacial Surgery Centre for five dedicated years. He has published 55+ peer-reviewed papers in national and international journals. And he has trained an entire generation of plastic surgeons as a CPSP Supervisor, Paper Setter, and Assessor.
Today, he brings that same depth of experience to every patient who walks into his private practice at Faisal Hospital, Faisalabad — whether they’re seeking a subtle cosmetic enhancement or a life-changing reconstruction.
36 years of operating at Pakistan's top teaching hospitals. Not weekend courses or online certifications — real, hands-on experience in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery across every major institution in Punjab. When a case is complex, other surgeons refer it to him.
With 55+ peer-reviewed publications, a seat on the editorial board of the Annals of Punjab Medical College, and roles as CPSP Supervisor and UHS Assessor — Dr. Cheema doesn't follow the literature. He writes it. He trains the next generation of plastic surgeons across Pakistan.
Not every patient who walks in needs surgery — and Dr. Cheema will tell you so. He's known for honest consultations, realistic expectations, and a refusal to operate unless he's confident in the outcome. His 100% patient satisfaction rating isn't marketing. It's earned.
Dr. Cheema’s impact extends far beyond the operating theatre. As a recognised National Soft Skills Facilitator with CPSP and UHS, he has conducted over 100 workshops on communication skills, supervisory skills, and professional development for doctors across Pakistan.
His conviction is simple: a technically brilliant surgeon who can’t communicate with patients is only half a surgeon. His workshops bridge that gap — teaching young doctors how to listen, how to explain, and how to earn the trust that leads to better outcomes.
He serves on the editorial board of the Annals of Punjab Medical College (APMC), peer-reviewing and shaping the research that guides the next era of surgical practice in Pakistan.