Los Angeles-Based Plastic Surgeon Is Helping To Correct Deformities in Children

by April Maguire

Every year, thousands of children across the United States are born with some type of congenital deformity. In fact, according to recent statistics roughly three percent of children are born with some kind of defect, and while many of these malformations are medical in nature and are corrected because they pose a life-threatening risk to the child, a significant percentage are merely cosmetic. Often, these cosmetic deformities go untreated for years because the child’s parents lack the necessary funds to cover the surgery, and living with a visible defect can negatively affect a child’s quality of life.

Recently, however, a group in Los Angeles called the Small Wonders Foundation has set out to correct some of these childhood deformities. By partnering with a local plastic surgeon, the non-profit group is offering free surgeries to families who otherwise couldn’t afford them, and the foundation is making a positive impact on the world, one child at a time.

The Importance of Appearance

Whether we like to admit it or not, appearance is important. In particular, elementary-aged kids have a habit of latching onto all types of differences, no matter how slight, and ridiculing their classmates for them. Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that children with visible deformities are often bullied and ostracized by their peers. Not only can this kind of derision negatively impact a child’s ability to enjoy school and other social activities, it can also result in delayed scholastic and social development. So it’s important that these malformations are corrected when they can be.

Creating Small Wonders

The Small Wonders foundation was created a decade ago by a group of dedicated parents and other individuals who wanted to provide assistance to families with children who were suffering from physical deformities. Over the last ten years, the foundation has helped to cover the surgery costs for more than two dozen operations, treating children with skin diseases and physical malformations.

Recently, the group partnered with Dr. John Reinisch, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who has more than 40 years’ experience in repairing deformities in children. In addition to performing the reparative surgeries, Dr. Reinisch also does community outreach work, educating the public about these types of childhood deformities, and he helps familiarize other doctors with state-of-the-art reconstructive techniques.

The importance of the services provided by the Small Wonders Foundation and groups like it cannot be overstated. By helping to correct childhood deformities, they are giving children the chance to fit in with their peers in the short-term, and the opportunity to live a normal, healthy life in the long-term.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about plastic surgery, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!