Patients and doctors call for equal rights for people with facial deformities

Patients and doctors call for equal rights for people with facial deformities

2024-03-21

Patients and doctors are calling for equal rights for people with facial deformities. At a press conference, patients who have benefited from facial reconstruction surgery spoke about their experiences of vascular tumors. These tumors, also known as hemangiomas, can cause facial swelling. Patients often suffer from unwanted attention, bullying or discrimination due to their appearance.

Twenty-nine-year-old Hsiao-tao has had facial swelling and asymmetry since childhood due to a vascular tumor. She used to dislike being photographed, and her appearance attracted lots of attention from other children. It brought many challenges to her life.

Hsiao-tao
Patient
After having surgery and therapy, my face has clearly improved. I think I can be more confident and more natural in groups.

Hsiao-hui has a similar vascular tumor, and, while growing up, experienced discrimination due to her appearance.

Hsiao-hui
Patient
My mood is definitely better since the surgery. I can see I don’t have the tumor, and after the reconstruction it’s much more effective than before.

Congenital vascular tumors or hemangiomas are a rare skin condition. Also known as “strawberry marks,” they grow gradually over time, and may cause obvious visual differences or functional impediments. It’s not just a cosmetic issue, but can also have psychological effects. Surgeons can use a “high SMAS” facelift technique and therapy to reconstruct the patient’s face and help them create a new smile.

Lee Jian-jr
CMUH Aesthetic Medical and Surgery Center
Due to technological advances, we can enable them to get away from such a lot of injustice. We want everyone to understand the importance of “face equality.” There is no reason for us to give them extra attention or unjust treatment just because of these deficiencies on their face.

Doctors are calling on the media to pay heed to “face equality,” and put an end to discrimination for people with facial deformities.

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高筋膜拉皮精密顏面手術助"草莓女孩"重展笑顏

2024-03-21

先天性血管畸形瘤，是一種少見的皮膚病變，隨著年紀，可能造成明顯外觀畸形，俗稱「草莓女孩」；29歲的小陶，因罹患此病，造成臉部腫脹，左右不對稱，讓她在青少年時期，不愛拍照，現在經過高位筋膜拉皮手術，精密顏面再造成功，幫她重展笑顏。

29歲的小陶，從小因為血管畸形瘤，導致臉部部分腫脹，左右不對稱，過去總不愛拍照，成長過程中，也常引來同學間的好奇，讓生活極為困擾。

[[病患小陶]]
“經過手術跟治療之後，臉部有明顯改善，我覺得能夠更有自信，更自然面對人群”

和小陶一樣，備受血管畸形瘤困擾的小惠，成長路上，也難免因外貌，遭受到
友善對待。

[[病患小惠]]
“(治療後)心情一定會比較好，就是看到說沒有血管瘤的部分，加上說這次的手術重建，效果也比之前好更多”

先天性血管畸形瘤，是一種少見的皮膚病變，俗稱草莓女孩，隨著年紀慢慢長大，可能到導致明顯的外觀畸形，或是功能障礙，不僅是美觀問題，也可能對病患心理造成影響，醫師藉由高位筋膜拉皮手術以及治療，機密顏面再造，幫助患者重展笑顏。

[[中醫大附醫整形外科美容中心副院長李建智]]
“因為技術的進步，我們可以讓他們不需要再承受這麼多不公平，希望呼籲讓所有人了解說顏面平權的重要性，我們沒理由因為她們臉上的這些缺陷，而給她更多的關注或不公平的對待”

醫師同時呼籲外界注重顏面平權議題，讓顏損者不再因外觀，遭受異樣眼光與對待。

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