How One L’Oréal Brand is Helping Those in Need

SkinCeuticals recently announced its partnership with ReSurge International to help educate and train female surgeons in developing areas. Discover how the Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery initiative is poised to change lives around the world below!

When many of us think of plastic surgery, its typically tied to an elective procedure that alters our appearance based on a personal choice. But, for someone with burn injuries or a congenital condition like a cleft palate, plastic surgery—specifically reconstructive plastic surgery—can be a life-changing experience. However, in many areas of the world, this type of transformative surgery is simply out of reach due to lack of safe, timely surgical care and the resources for which to pay for it. To help those in need, SkinCeuticals— a brand in L’Oréal’s portfolio—in partnership with ReSurge International is launching an initiative for Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery.

According to a release by the brand, 5 billion people worldwide lack access to safe surgical care—and in these low-income countries, there are only three female surgeons for every one million people. In order to correct this imbalance SkinCeuticals and ReSurge International teamed up for Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery. This thoughtful initiative will help technically train, professionally mentor, and develop the leadership of first-generation female surgeons in order to increase access to reconstructive surgical care in under-served areas of the world. By helping to provide this much-needed care, people with a wide-range of aesthetic conditions may be better equipped to fully participate in their communities, attend school, and provide for their families.

“Today, reconstructive care is out of reach for 2/3 of the population,” shares Leslie Harris, Global General Manager of SkinCeuticals. “If we want to change this statistic, we need to change the number of women surgeons in low income countries who often face unique barriers to entering the field.”

Founded in 1969, ReSurge International has provided 100,000 reconstructive surgeries for patients in developing areas of the world. In 2014, the organization launched its International Global Training Program and Academic Faculty under the direction of Dr. James Chang—Stanford University’s chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery. Founded on a “teach to fish” philosophy, the training program works to bring together world-class medical faculty and local surgeons in developing areas to train them on reconstructive care. 

“These women are not only learning surgical skills,” explains Dr. Chang, “but [also] how to navigate a male-dominated field with specialty curriculum in reconstructive surgery and career advancement through our partnership with SkinCeuticals. It is an issue critical to me as a father of three daughters. We would like to mentor and empower these pioneering women surgeons for future generations.”

Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery will help female surgeons grow their knowledge and as a result, provide networks of reconstructive surgical care within their communities. The first year of the partnership will focus on five up-and-coming female surgeons – Dr. Faith Chengetayi Muchemwa of Zimbabwe, Dr. Celma Marina Teles Issufo of Mozambique, Dr. Shilu Shrestha of Nepal, Dr. Lorena Escudero Castro of Ecuador, and Dr. Farzana Bilquis Ibrahim from Bangladesh.

Learn more about this powerful initiative here!