This month, the Educational and Research Foundation for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS Foundation) humanitarian initiative FACE TO FACE will embark on its fourth medical mission to Ukraine. Led by facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Manoj Abraham, MD, FACS, an interdisciplinary medical team of 22—including five facial plastic and reconstructive AAFPRS member surgeons—will be stationed at a hospital in Lviv, one of Ukraine’s largest cities located approximately four hours from the Polish border. FACE TO FACE is the humanitarian and educational surgical exchange program sponsored by the Educational and Research Foundation for the AAFPRS Foundation.
The medical mission team plans to operate on 30 patients with severe facial trauma as a result of devastating war-related injuries. These complex procedures—lasting up to 12 hours—will include microvascular free flap surgeries and reconstruction using 3-D, patient-specific implants. In addition to providing direct care, the surgeons will train local Ukrainian doctors in these cutting-edge techniques to build sustainable medical proficiency in the region.
“What we’re seeing in Ukraine is an overwhelming need for complex facial reconstruction that goes beyond basic trauma care,” says mission trip leader and FACE TO FACE Committee Senior Advisor Manoj T. Abraham, MD, FACS. “This mission isn’t just about performing life-changing surgeries—it's about equipping local surgeons with the skills and tools to carry this work forward. That’s how we create a lasting impact.”
Patient Cases Available for Media Access including:
Female Patient, Facial Injury from Missile Attack in Kostiantynivka. On September 11, 2024, a female patient was at home in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, when a missile struck her residential neighborhood. The blast caused massive facial trauma—a mine-blast injury requiring complex reconstructive intervention. Her story, widely covered in international media, underscores the tragic toll of civilian injuries during the war. She is now undergoing treatment with the goal of returning to a normal life.
Female Patient, Head Injury from Shelling in Bakhmut. On January 1, 2023, during active hostilities in Bakhmut, a female patient sustained a traumatic head injury when Russian forces launched an artillery attack. Her home was struck during the shelling, and she now represents one of many civilians injured in Ukraine's hardest-hit frontline cities.