The initiative, which ran from 23 to 27 May at the hospital, saw world-renowned surgeon Prof. George Psaras, co-founder of the Smile Foundation, fly in from Cyprus to perform three specialised facial reanimation surgeries while Prof. Tim Christofides performed five cleft lip and/or palate surgeries.
Christofides, who is the head of plastics paediatrics at the University of the Witwatersrand, explained the process behind the complex reanimation surgery.
“This type of surgery is performed on children and adults who cannot smile due to disorders such as the Moebius syndrome, and this can affect one or both sides of the face,” Christofides explained.
“What happens during the surgery is that a facelift-type of incision is made on the face, thus elevating the skin on the cheek area and then nerves and vessels are taken from the leg area and reconnected to the nerves and arteries in the face.”
This then allows for facial movement and allows the patient to smile.
Moira Gerszt, operations executive director of Smile Foundation, praised the live-changing surgeries and spoke of the foundation’s role in supporting the hospital and doctors who carried out these surgeries.
“Essentially. this week was all about giving many more children much-needed specialised surgery from renowned surgeons and putting more smiles on their faces,” Gerszt said.
She explained that the foundation became involved in the initiative by collaborating with the hospital to get more theatre time for these rare surgeries, which often ran for 12 to13 hours at a time, and offering parents much-needed support during the stressful time.
Speaking on behalf of the Dis-Chem Foundation was Lynette Saltzman, co-founder of the foundation, who said it had been a privilege to sponsor Smile Week.
“This critical intervention of reconstructive facial surgery at such a young age is vital and life changing. With the assistance of top surgeons, doctors, nurses and therapy, the kids will be able to smile again,” Saltzman said.
Smile Week also saw various celebrities, including actress, Hlubi Mboya, and media personality, Maps Maponyane, spend time with the patients in support of the initiative.
Details: www.smilefoundation.co.za
