As tough as it is to loose our hair, imagine being a child with a deformed cleft lip and mouth (see photo below).

Fortunately there is a not for profit volunteer medical services organization called “ Operation Smile ” that surgically restores these children for life.

Operation Smile's volunteer medical professionals travel around the world to treat indigent children and young adults suffering from facial deformities. Their efforts mean new smiles for thousands of children. A $240 donation will pay for a lifetime restoration for one child.

I encourage everyone who gets a hair transplant to share the miracle of life changing surgery by helping put a life time smile on a child some where in this war torn world.

I think that Operation Smile not only restores smiles but good will. And doesn’t this world need all the good will it can get?

Please join me in contributing enough to pay for one life changing surgery for one child. They’ll smile and so will you.

To learn more and contribute online visit http://www.operationsmile.org/

Happy holidays and best wishes for a beautiful New Year!

Pat



Before-and-After-of-Cleft-S.jpg (53 Kb, 615 downloads) Before and After cleft surgery

Pat,

Your post really hits home when you think about the big picture.
We as men whine because our scalps are getting larger. We worry about not getting chicks, future jobs,.......because of it.

But then you see the photos of little kids you have posted, and you have to begin to wonder how really traumatic is must be for a child to have to endure the stares, laughs and ridicule of something so disfiguring.

Maybe a hirloss actually isn't the worst thing in the world.

Thanks for the reality check.
I will send your link off to my friends.

Thanks for the reality check Pat. Very worthy cause I think. Just made a donation and I already feel better :-). I'm sure for some hair loss is more than just a vanity issue but it really doesn't compare to something like this. Unless maybe you had some huge 1 inch plugs from years ago :-O. Happy Holidays to you and thanks for your good work here.

"On behalf of the Operation Smile family, we thank you for your support. You will receive a confirmation email message and receipt shortly."

Pat,

What a great idea. Thank you for bringing this worthy cause to our attention. I will look into making a donation to this worthy cause!

Falc

Thanks to Byehair, flyby and Falceros for recognizing a truly worthy cause. It would be great if we could keep this cause in mind beyond the holidays by encouraging all patients to restore a smile when they restore their hair.

Such patients will then not only be in the "real hair club" but in the "smile club".

Perhaps those who contribute could add "Smile Club Member" to their signatures with a link to this topic.

Best wishes for restoring hair and smiles in the New Year - Pat

I have made a donation to this worth cause. I am now a Proud Smile Club Member and have added this into my signature.

Those who are interested in donating to a worthy cause, I recommend considering this one.

Falc

One of our very own recommended surgeons, Dr. Siporin in Southern California has flown down to Central America and performed these surgeries for free on children. His involvement is mentioned on the bio page of his website.

Kudos to him and other leading surgeons who donate their time for such noble causes.

Pat