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Utah plastic surgeon bringing hope to children in Ecuador and you can help

Utah plastic surgeon bringing hope to children in Ecuador and you can help

(Photo courtesy Utah Facial Plastics)


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In third world countries like Ecuador, children with congenital birth defects rarely have access to the medical expertise and technology required to address their medical concerns.

In fact, children in Ecuador and other countries like it would probably never receive the life-altering medical procedures they need without the generosity of physicians like Dr. Scott K. Thompson of Utah Facial Plastics and organizations like HUGS Foundation, Inc.

HUGS, which stands for Help Us Give Smiles, is a non-profit organization that performs life-changing facial plastic reconstructive surgery missions in Ecuador, Guatemala and Vietnam, with plans to add a mission to Peru later in 2019.

Where it began

The group was founded by industry leader Dr. Vito C. Quatela, a board certified aesthetic facial surgeon, in 2003. His goal was to change the lives of children who, because of their congenital deformities, were often rejected by their communities and families and left without proper medical care. Each year, he invites plastic surgeons to join him on week-long service missions to perform plastic and reconstructive surgeries.

Thompson did his fellowship with Quatela, who recruited him for missions because of his impressive surgical skills. As a renowned microtia specialist with over 15 years of experience, Thompson has continued to join Quatela on multiple mission excursions over the past decade. He plans to join another trip to Ecuador scheduled for the end of April 2019.

Societal repercussions of congenital malformations

Congenital deformities like microtia, cleft lip and cleft palate are some of the more common surgeries seen by HUGS Foundation.

Because Ecuador does not have an official medical birth registry, it is not clear how many babies are born in the country each year with congenital malformations. The difficulty in quantifying the number of children affected by birth defects is further affected by cultural misunderstandings.

“In Ecuador, the low level of education and cultural misconceptions have led many families to hide birth defects because their reporting could lead to the families being stigmatized by their social group, mainly in isolated rural populations,” explains a study published by the National Institutes of Health.

In addition, children with obvious physical deformities can suffer severe teasing from their peers, which leads to self-confidence issues and isolation.

Photo courtesy of Utah Facial Plastics
Photo courtesy of Utah Facial Plastics

A man on a mission

“There are a lot of children and adults down in Central and South America that are born with congenital deformities. And particularly the things that we work on in our group are people who are born without any ears,” Thompson reported following a 2014 mission to Ecuador.

Microtia is the medical term for people born either missing an external ear or with a significantly deformed ear which is often also devoid of ear canal, causing hearing impairment.

Repairing the malformation or reconstructing the missing ear is no small feat, even for experienced surgeons. Thompson explained: “The external ear is a highly complex and three-dimensional structure that sits in space apart from the blood supply and skin of the head. Attempting to create an ear structure of the correct shape, size and position of a normal ear is fraught with potential complications.

“Further complicating the process is that this surgery requires multiple stages, only one of which can be performed with each trip to Ecuador. This means that the whole process from start to finish can be a several-year commitment,” he said.

The process includes an initial surgery where Thompson retrieves cartilage from the patient’s ribs. He must then sculpt the tissue into the correct shape and implant it under the skin to heal. At a later surgery, he can then attach the reconstructed ear in its proper location on the head. Because of the delicate nature of each surgery, the procedure requires as much artistry as it does medical care. The result is a natural-looking ear made from the patient’s own body which can continue to grow as the body grows.

Photo courtesy of
Photo courtesy of

How you can help

Medical procedures like those required for treating microtia costs about $40,000 per child in the United States, according to the foundation’s website. However, that same amount funds surgeries for almost 60 children in Ecuador. Even small donations make a big difference for children who have faced significant challenges since the day they were born.

Thompson donates his time and personally funds the cost of his trips and he invites his Utah patients, friends and neighbors to join him in assisting these underprivileged people. Those interested in helping HUGS fulfill its goals have many options. Volunteers are needed to assist in HUGS fundraising events such as their annual gala, talents are needed to enhance the gala fundraiser and provide artwork for the annual auction and medical equipment is necessary to ensure the success of each service mission.

However, the simplest and perhaps most effective way to make a difference can be a simple cash donation. “No amount is too small,” the foundation says. “Every little bit helps us go on another mission.”

For more information on the HUGS Foundation or to make a donation, visit helpusgivesmiles.org today.

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