CLEFT SURGERY – A LIFE FREE FROM BULLYING
Growing up with a cleft condition in her rural village
in Malawi was extremely challenging for Tereza. She was constantly teased
and bullied and was often called ‘an animal’ or ‘half a person’. Tereza was
completely ostracized from village life. The harassment eventually got so bad
that she abandoned her schooling and isolated herself from her neighbors and
other members of her community
“I remember one day a boy just called me every name
possible about my nose and my lip and I ended up losing control and shouted so
many things back then sat in my room all night and cried, but it didn’t make me
feel better. In fact it taught me that retaliating wasn’t going to change the
way I looked and it certainly wasn’t going to change that boy’s opinion of me,
it was only going to show him that he had won by getting a reaction out of me.”
– Jacqueline, adult with a cleft
“Bullying is probably the hardest thing to deal with besides
the surgeries about having a Cleft lip and palate. And that is a debatable
statement. It’s very tough to try to explain such a complex condition to a
friend in most likely such a short period of time (At lunch, between classes
etc.) as well as needing to making sure they fully understand what you’re
saying. Plus, usually, whether they mean to or not, people tend to ask about it
in fairly rude ways: “What happened?” or “What’s wrong with you?” are the two
main ways I am asked. When you know that you couldn’t have done anything to
prevent it and there isn’t much you can do about it now, these questions feel
offensive. But honestly, after years and years of it, all of the asking, the
making fun, the bullying, I don’t blame them. They are seeing something
different about someone and are just plain curious.” Andrew, adult with a
cleft.
It has occurred to all of us at some time, at a park, at the
shopping center, when walking down the street, etc. We see a disabled,
maimed, contorted, crippled, individual and we look away. Why do we do
this? Most of us don’t do it to be mean, but we do it because we are hurt
about the unfairness of life and it pains us to see a fellow human in such
distress. Many do the same thing when stopping at an intersection and see
a homeless person begging for money. We look away because the sight
disturbs us. Some look away because they don’t want to contribute as
well.
We attempt to “sterilize” our vision to eliminate unpleasant
imagery. We do not want to see things that disturb us. This may be a
natural protection mechanism, but it does not make it right. We need to
condition ourselves to do the opposite.
As Albert Einstein once said, “The world is a
dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who
look on and do nothing.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-south-yorkshire-44244746
Apart from aesthetic surgery, I maintain a commitment to
children (and adults) born with facial deformities with cleft lip, cleft palate
and major craniofacial deformities. Operating on complex cleft deformities
allows me to sharpen and apply my aesthetic surgical skills in creative ways.
Paying homage to all my Plastic Surgery and Cleft Surgery mentors, I carry on
the legacy to provide high level care in cleft surgery incorporating fat
grafting, stem cell/Platelet Rich Plasma treatments, advanced rhinoplasty
techniques, scar camouflage with laser resurfacing and moustache hair
transplants.
I am a member of Mission Smile, an international Cleft
Charity and today nothing gives me greater joy than giving back to the underprivileged
and those less fortunate.
As we look back at all the giants in the field of plastic
surgery of the 20th Century, virtually ALL continued to challenge themselves
with reconstructive surgery. Whether it be the great Harold Gillies, Fernando
Ortiz-Monasterio, Paul Tessier, Ralph Millard and Ivo Pitanguy— all these
plastic surgeons never forgotten their roots and continue to see and treat
patients for reconstructive problems.
A properly operated cleft lip and palate repair can make a
world of difference for the child! Now, we extend our services via a
cooperation between Skin Check Malaysia & Gem Clinic to serve the less
fortunate.
“A deformity should not just be judged by its appearance.
The psychological impact also matters.” Ivo Pitanguy.
Working with Dr Histeswar Sarma, an excellent cleft surgeon, mentor and friend in India on charity cleft cases.
#operationsmile #missionsmile #cleftlip #cleftpalate #cleftrepair
#orthognathicsurgery #craniofacialsurgery #skincheckmalaysia88
#drleesengkhoo #gemclinic
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You may reach our practice by emailing contact@skincheckmalaysia.com
Or +6014 2006558 (Whatsapp Only) or call us at 03-56211909
to schedule an appointment.
