Leaving an abusive relationship is one step. Living with the facial scars it left behind is another, and those scars can follow survivors for years. Dr. Andrew Jacono has devoted part of his career to removing them.
A dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York, he has performed facial reconstructions for more than 100 domestic violence survivors. The surgeries come through FACE TO FACE, a pro bono program of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He holds the role of senior advisor there.
Scars That Keep Trauma Present
The harm caused by facial disfigurement extends well past looks. Each glance in a mirror can bring back memories of the abuse. Employers and strangers notice. Survivors may find it hard to secure a job or to move on psychologically.
Reconstruction offers a way to erase those physical markers. Without the visible reminder, recovery can proceed on different terms.
Advocacy Beyond Surgery
Dr. Andrew Jacono has also worked outside the operating room on behalf of survivors. He chaired ABOUT FACE: MAKING CHANGES, a yearly benefit for domestic violence survivors, for nine years. He has climbed Kilimanjaro, Cotopaxi, and Elbrus to raise money and awareness for survivors and for children in need of surgery.
Television helped widen that reach. In 2011, Facing Trauma premiered on Discovery Fit & Health, later airing on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Episodes showed him performing reconstructive surgery and followed survivors as they reclaimed their identities.
Formal honors followed his efforts. The Center for the Women of New York presented him with a “Good Guy” Award in 2006. Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy commended him in the Congressional Record for his contributions to women’s welfare.
Few patients in his Park Avenue practice will ever meet the survivors he treats for free. For Dr. Andrew Jacono, both groups receive the same skill, and for survivors, that skill can mean finally seeing a face that belongs to the present rather than the past. See related link for more information.
See for more about Dr. Andrew Jacono on https://www.youtube.com/c/drandrewjacono