A plastic surgeon from the United States will perform free surgeries for children with facial deformities in Lviv

The war in Ukraine left deep scars not only on the land, but also on the faces of children. Damage from debris, burns from fires, birth defects in need of attention, all become more painful in a country where the health care system is under the stress of war. Especially vulnerable are children who were injured during shelling, lost their homes, families or suffered physical injuries. In such conditions, the help of international specialists acquires not only a medical, but also a humanitarian dimension. Such an example is the visit of Oksana Jackson, an American plastic surgeon of Ukrainian origin, who will come to Lviv for the second time to operate on children with severe facial defects free of charge.

The context of the visit and the team of specialists

Plastic surgeon Oksana Jackson, who is of Ukrainian origin and works in the USA, will arrive in Lviv during the week from July 20 to 27 to provide free consultations and perform operations to children from all over Ukraine who have cleft lips, palates and other congenital or acquired pathologies. About this it is said in a message on the Facebook page of the First Medical Association of Lviv.

Oksana Jackson is a renowned plastic surgeon from New York who specializes in facial reconstructive surgery in children. Her visit to Lviv will be the fourth since the beginning of the full-scale war. As before, she will work at the St. Nicholas Children’s Hospital, which is part of the First Medical Association of Lviv.

This time, American surgeon Natalia Biskup will join her, which will allow to expand the team and cover a larger number of patients. Ukrainian doctors who cooperate with foreign colleagues in the mode of professional exchange of experience will also take part. Consultations will be held on July 20, and operations will be held from July 21 to 27.

Who is treated: a spectrum of pathologies

The team focuses on children with congenital and acquired facial and upper extremity disabilities. The focus is not only on aesthetic, but also on functional rehabilitation. In particular, we are talking about:

• cleft lip and palate, which are often accompanied by speech and eating disorders;
• deformations of the nose, ears, jaws and skull, which can be both congenital and the result of injuries;
• micrognathia (abnormally small lower jaw), craniosynostosis (premature fusion of skull seams), facial paralysis;
• the consequences of burns and open wounds on the face are a common phenomenon in children who have been exposed to shelling or fires in shelters;
• congenital neoplasms, such as nevi, lipomas, as well as pathologies of the mammary glands;
• Poland syndrome (congenital anomaly of the chest and upper limbs);
• hand deformities that make self-care and learning difficult.

The acquired nature of many of these problems is a direct consequence of the military context. Among the patients, there are many who suffered physical injuries as a result of shelling, destruction of buildings, fires or explosions.

Importance for children of war: not only medicine

Operations to restore the face and functions have a deep psychological meaning. Children with visible disabilities often face bullying, isolation, learning and socialization difficulties. After the loss of parents or experienced violence, the very appearance of the child becomes for her and others a symbol of her trauma. Restoring one’s appearance is not only about beauty, but about returning a sense of dignity, security, and the possibility of being accepted into the environment of one’s peers.

Psychological support of such patients often begins precisely with surgical intervention. In many cases, this is the first step towards rehabilitation. And when doctors work for free, families can afford treatment that would otherwise be out of reach due to financial hardship, loss of housing, and relocation.

Organization and accessibility

The format of the arrival of foreign surgeons not only saves specific patients, but also strengthens the Ukrainian health care system. Doctors from the USA conduct operations in cooperation with Ukrainian colleagues, leaving behind not only cured children, but also new knowledge, approaches, and standards. In this format, there is a practical transfer of experience and professional development of local specialists, who in the future can independently carry out similar interventions.

To participate in the program, parents must fill out an online form by July 18. Priority is given to children with the most complex cases, but doctors consider all applications. The advantage of this approach is maximum openness. Medical interventions are performed free of charge, and all patients are provided with full support: from diagnosis and preparation to postoperative care.

Plastic surgeons’ visits to Lviv have become not only a medical but also an ethical phenomenon. They demonstrate that despite the destruction, lack of resources and human losses, Ukrainian children deserve the best help. For children injured, burned, crippled by war, these interventions are not just a chance to change their appearance. This is a step towards restoring trust in a world that is capable of being caring and humane.