The discussion of plastic surgery often revolves around cosmetic improvements. Many people argue about the morality of cosmetic surgery but there is so much more to the industry.
Plastic surgery is extremely important when it comes to solving health problems the world over. One of those problems is cleft lip and palate. Many children all across the globe suffer from this crippling condition. Plastic surgery offers a life changing option to improve these children’s lives.
The International Business Times explores this very topic in a recent article titled “Cleft Lip And Palate In Ghana: How Repair Surgery Can Change Lives, Boost Local Economies.” Morgan Windsor of the International Business Times writes, “To tackle the crisis, a growing number of healthcare workers are hoping to persuade governments in Africa to help spread awareness and cover the cost of treatment by making the case that doing so would boost the continent’s struggling economies. A study recently published in the World Journal of Surgery found that, at a cost of $250, a cleft repair operation can boost local economies around the world by as much as $50,000 per patient as that individual goes on to lead a full, productive life, free of health complications and stigma. Those who have the surgery typically then receive an education, get a job, start a family and thus contribute to economic productivity. This triggers a ripple effect that has salutary effects not only on the patients but also on entire communities and regions, experts said.”
Perhaps the most effective way to convey the importance of cleft lip and palate repair surgery is through a firsthand account from someone who has suffered from the affliction.
Net Doctor provides just that in a recent article titled “What it’s like to be born with a cleft lip or palate in developing countries.” Natalie Healey of Net Doctor writes, “Thanks to medical advancements, cleft lip and palate are rarely an issue for babies born in developed countries. But children around the world are not always so lucky… When a young woman gave birth to a baby boy with a facial deformity in a village near Kumasi, Ghana, terrified locals carried him to the river for sacrifice to the Gods. Luckily, a man named Alex stepped in and stopped them before taking the child to Accra, the capital, to a surgeon named Dr Solomon Obiri-Yeboah who performed a simple and transformative procedure on the baby to repair his cleft lip and palate.”
If you are considering cleft lip and palate repair surgery for your child, you need a surgeon you can trust. Rex E. Moulton Barrett, M.D. is board certified with The American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and The American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
For more information on the procedure, contact us for a consultation.