Weeks after raising more than $40,000 for the people of Turkey and Syria who were gravely affected by an earthquake on 6 February, Missouri plastic surgeon Dr. Mike Nayak is now gifting two men new noses.
Dr. Nayak says Turkish surgeons have transformed modern rhinoplasty technique, and that he has always wanted to find a way to thank them.
On 6 February, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Turkey and Syria.
A $22,500 donation from the surgeon and his wife were the least they could do to support their fellow people, he shared.
Sharing Turkey’s need and his own good deed via social media, the surgeon encouraged another $18,000 in donations to the Red Cross from 136 of his patients, followers, and other plastic surgeons, for a total of more than $40,000 in aid.
Since charitable efforts like this one are so laudable, Surgical Times has tracked five this year.
Nayak’s efforts produced astounding and entirely unparalleled results.
Missouri surgeon gifts Miami man free procedure to treat nose disorder
The Missouri-based plastic surgeon and his team at Nayak Plastic Surgery are now changing a Miami man’s life by providing him a surgical procedure to treat his rhinophyma1A skin disorder that causes the nose to enlarge and become red, bumpy, and bulbous. – UT Southwestern Medical Center at no cost.
Jorge, a 58-year-old Miami man, is the second recent pro bono rhinophyma case the surgeon has done.
Dr. Mike Nayak also emphasized that others suffering from a truly disfiguring case of the condition and who are unable to pay for surgery, can contact his office to arrange for the pro bono procedure.
Mild to moderate cases of the skin disorder are treated with medication, while severe cases of lumpiness are treated by surgery. It is patients with the latter whom the surgeon wants to hear from.
The surgeon and his team are gifting Jorge the procedure after insurance failed to cover it for him.
Speaking on video at the practice Monday, Jorge says he called in and told them he had no insurance or other coverage for the operation.
Staff said that’s fine, the surgeon would take care of it for him anyway. For free.
“They said it’s not going to cost you anything, and I couldn’t believe it, even right now,” Jorge says. “I believe that this is a dream, that I hit the lottery.”
Dr. Nayak says that even with the best insurance, the procedure may not be covered.
Jorge says that he’s a very social person, but that his nose has been the focus of attention from some of the people he converses with.
A mask has helped him conceal it at times, but the condition affects him in other ways.
Tuesday’s pro bono procedure will change that for the better.
The cost of surgically treating rhinophyma varies depending on the severity of the condition, but typically ranges from $7,000-$8,000.
References
- 1A skin disorder that causes the nose to enlarge and become red, bumpy, and bulbous. – UT Southwestern Medical Center