The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and FACE TO FACE Support Survivors of Domestic Violence

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Domestic violence accounts for fifteen percent of all violent crimes, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). Regardless of gender, age or race, it's prevalent in every community. Thousands of phone calls are made to hotlines nationwide by victims searching for help, but the violence still leaves both physical and emotional scars.

FACE TO FACE: The Domestic Violence Project is a humanitarian program that offers 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. In honor of October as National Domestic Violence Awareness month, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) and FACE TO FACE created an infographic to shed light and raise awareness about domestic violence and the treatments the project provides to survivors.

Click here to view the FACE TO FACE infographic: https://www.aafprs.org/media/press-release/20170927.html

One million of the five million women affected each year by domestic violence in the US require medical attention. It is a harrowing experience for survivors and even more troublesome is the physical damage that can remain long after the relationship has ended.

"Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the US," says Fred Fedok, M.D. and President of AAFPRS. "FACE TO FACE empowers individuals to overcome the physical limitations placed on them by circumstances beyond their control and continues to set precedent in the medical community as the first surgical group to take a stand with its landmark humanitarian initiative."

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

The AAFPRS works hand-in-hand with shelters nationwide to ensure the individual is counseled emotionally, has contacted a domestic violence shelter and is safely away from the violent relationship. Once the individual has begun the inner healing process, they will be referred to a surgeon.

"Our FACE TO FACE surgeons volunteer their time and effort to help victims of domestic violence who have suffered facial trauma," says Manoj T. Abraham, M.D. and Chair of FACE TO FACE. "It is our hope that by helping improve the visible evidence of the suffering these domestic violence survivors have endured, we can help them heal and return to their families and communities."

The FACE TO FACE: National Domestic Violence Project hotline is 1-800-842-4546.

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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