AAFPRS Foundation, Candela® Partner to Aid Domestic Abuse Survivors

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Oct 02, 2018, 10:17 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Educational and Research Foundation of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS Foundation) and the Candela Corporation, a leading global manufacturer of energy based devices, are pleased to announce a collaboration that will support survivors of domestic violence.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month, and nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Often, these injuries occur on the face, head and neck. FACE TO FACE: The Domestic Violence Project is one of three arms to the AAFPRS Foundation's humanitarian programs. Through this life-altering program, AAFPRS members offer pro bono facial plastic and reconstructive surgery to domestic violence survivors to repair injuries on the face, head and neck caused by an intimate partner or spouse.

FACE TO FACE: The Domestic Violence Project aims to change the lives of survivors (who are overwhelmingly women) and encourage them to empower their own lives and free themselves from harmful situations to go on to live successful, happy lives. The facial plastic surgeons who have participated in the program have helped more than 1,000 women since its inception in 1994.

"Our FACE TO FACE: The Domestic Violence Project helps rebuild the lives of individuals by improving the visible evidence of the suffering they have endured. The FACE TO FACE surgeons involved assist in helping these survivors heal, putting the trauma behind them to live successful and happy lives," says Westchester, NY facial plastic surgeon Manoj T. Abraham, M.D., Chair of the AAFPRS Foundation FACE TO FACE Program. "The AAFPRS Foundation is pleased to partner with Candela, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and other companies, foundations and individuals to help us achieve this goal."

The AAFPRS Foundation is establishing funding to support individuals whose injuries go beyond what the AAFPRS physician services can offer, such as a hospital stay or anesthesiologist fees. Candela has generously provided the seed money to establish this funding. In addition, the AAFPRS and Candela are collaborating to outline state-of-the-art protocols for instances where Candela's Vbeam® Pulsed Dye Laser system will be used by FACE TO FACE surgeons to assist patients that require the treatment of scars or trauma induced purpura.

"Candela is honored to partner with the AAFPRS Foundation and its FACE TO FACE program to assist in providing pro bono treatments with Vbeam systems to domestic violence survivors to help improve their overall quality of life," says Geoffrey Crouse, Chief Executive Officer of Candela. "This collaboration, along with the recent FDA clearance of our newest and most advanced Pulsed Dye Laser, the Vbeam Prima™, showcases Candela's long standing commitment to furthering science in order to help to change lives."

"The AAFPRS Foundation is in the process of seeking new and innovative approaches to continue to deliver our vital FACE TO FACE humanitarian programs," observes Steve Jurich, AAFPRS Foundation Executive Vice President & CEO. "And we are deeply appreciative of Candela's meaningful support to help fund the opportunity to allow FACE TO FACE survivors with scars access to treatments with the company's state-of-the-art laser at no cost—this is a wonderful example of how the AAFPRS Foundation and industry can partner together to advance the quality of life of domestic abuse survivors."

About FACE TO FACE
In the early 1990s, the FACE TO FACE humanitarian program was established by the Educational and Research Foundation for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS Foundation) so that AAFPRS members could volunteer to use their skills and share their talent in helping less fortunate individuals in need, both here in the United States and abroad.

There are three arms to the FACE TO FACE Program:

FACE TO FACE: International brings AAFPRS members to third world countries where they treat children with facial birth defects and anomalies.
FACE TO FACE: The National Domestic Violence Project allows AAFPRS members to perform surgeries on survivors of domestic abuse here in the United States, who have received injuries to their faces.
FACES OF HONOR offers free surgical care for soldiers who have been injured in the line of duty.

Please call 703-299-9291 for more information about the FACE TO FACE Program.

About the AAFPRS:
The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is the world's largest specialty association for facial plastic surgery. It represents more than 2,500 facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons throughout the world. The AAFPRS is a National Medical Specialty Society of the American Medical Association (AMA), and holds an official seat in both the AMA House of Delegates and the American College of Surgeons board of governors. AAFPRS members are board certified surgeons whose focus is surgery of the face, head, and neck. AAFPRS members subscribe to a code of ethics. In addition, the AAFPRS provide consumers with free information and brochures and a list of qualified facial plastic surgeons in their area by visiting the AAFPRS website, www.AAFPRS.org.

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About Candela
Candela is a leading global aesthetic device company with an extensive product portfolio and a global distribution footprint. The Company's technology enables physicians to provide advanced solutions for a broad range of medical-aesthetic applications including hair removal, wrinkle reduction, tattoo removal, women's health treatments, facial resurfacing, traumatic and surgical scar treatments, body contouring, improving the skin's appearance through the treatment of benign vascular and pigmented lesions, and the treatment of acne, leg veins and cellulite. Candela has a wide portfolio of trusted, leading products, including Vbeam®, the Gentle Family®, CO₂RE®, CO₂RE Intima®, Profound®, elōs Plus®, PicoWay®, UltraShape®, VelaShape®, IPL and other laser-based platforms. Acquired by Apax Partners in July 2017, the Company markets, services and supports its products in 86 countries. It has offices in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom and many international distributors.