Vanity 4 Humanity (Giving back what’s lost)
The notion for my charity, Vanity 4 Humanity, came to me when I decided to fully concentrate my private practice on cosmetic surgery here in Manhattan, in 2008. This decision was due to the frustration that my office experienced when dealing with insurance companies. I’ve always loved performing reconstructive plastic surgery and I didn’t want to give it up completely, I just needed to perform it pro bono.
Photos of the Humanitarian Trip to Haiti & The Dominican Republic
Initially Vanity 4 Humanity‘s mission was to provide breast cancer reconstruction to the underserved female population in the Dominican Republic. This is my wife’s native country, and breast reconstruction incorporates everything that I think plastic surgery is about. It’s helping people after surviving cancer, it’s creating a breast from various ingenious methods and it’s incredibly gratifying work.
Therefore in December of 2009 we went on our first mission to D.R. and performed these procedures, as well as general plastic reconstruction cases, in conjunction with the Divino Nino Foundation. We are continuing these trips twice a year. Most total breast reconstructions require two surgeries and therefore by our going twice a year these women are being fully reconstructed in six month’s time.
The feeling of helping others in need on that first mission was something that my wife and I both found very rewarding. I reconnected with why I become a doctor, so when the Haitian earthquake struck in early 2010 I decided to go try to help. With my wife’s organizational skills here in the office and the contributions of many friends and patients we were able to provide equipment and continued Plastic Surgery coverage at the facility I was at, until the need subsided. That experience allowed me to be part of a disaster relief effort which I would like to do again in the future, should the opportunity arise.
Vanity 4 Humanity‘s evolution from solely performing breast reconstruction to include general plastic reconstruction and then disaster relief has been a wonderful thing to be a part of. I’ve met some incredible patients, doctors and laypeople along the way. All the while continually being amazed by what the human spirit is capable of.
Please click the link to go to the official Vanity 4 Humanity website where you’ll find our charity’s blog, photos of our missions, videos, and a contact form to sign up for our charity events mailing list. These charity events will be held here in Manhattan to raise the necessary funds to support our cause. Your support will be greatly appreciated. We’ll also be sure to keep you informed of our latest mission, and to update you on the stories of some of the patients we’ve helped.
Thank you, I hope you can help us continue “giving back what’s lost” by providing reconstructive plastic surgery to those less fortunate then ourselves.
Dr. Roland
Vanity 4 Humanity