Dr. Mathew Mosher, specializing in plastic surgery in the Vancouver area, recently returned from his volunteer mission to rural Guatemala, where he and 20 volunteers completed 75 procedures on impoverished locals.
Langley, British Columbia (July 2011) – Dr. Mathew Mosher of YES Medspa & Cosmetic Surgery Centre, a plastic surgery clinic near Vancouver, recently returned from a volunteer medical mission to rural Guatemala with volunteer organization Project HANDS. Dr. Mosher says he is eager to share his experiences with women and men who frequent his practice, and teach others about the wonderful work volunteers from Project HANDS do in Central America.
“My recent volunteer mission was an enlightening experience, and I have really enjoyed sharing some the stories from this trip with the men and women who visit our plastic surgery practice,” notes Dr. Mosher. Dr. Mosher traveled with 20 volunteers from Project HANDS, (Helping And Nurturing Developing Societies) to rural Guatemala to offer reconstructive surgery to people of varying ages. The mission continues a 5 year tradition in which a locally founded charitable organization coordinates Canadian surgical teams’ travel to Guatemala to help impoverished residents who don’t have the financial ability or physical access to the surgical care that they need.
Dr. Mosher, whose typical day consists of mainly cosmetic surgeries such as breast augmentation near Vancouver, says that his team was extremely successful in helping a variety of people. In total, the volunteer group completed 75 procedures over 10 days. The majority of people they helped were children, many of whom had received severe burns that had been left untreated and resulted in disfiguring scars. Children in Guatemala are a high risk for these injuries due to their primitive homes where open fires are used for cooking.
“During my time in Guatemala, I saw a number of people ranging in age and conditions, but some of the most profound experiences came from the children we helped,” says Dr. Mosher. “Many of these children traveled for hours, often with their siblings to visit our surgery clinic. Their families often spoke one of the Mayan dialects that made communication a real challenge. Providing this care required all the skills and resources of our team working together. I am grateful for having had this experience and to all the people who made this mission possible.”
YES Medspa & Cosmetic Surgery Centre specializes in a variety of surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, and Dr. Mosher says his experience in Guatemala has brought renewed dedication to his cosmetic practice. While there are significant differences between underprivileged burn victims and women seeking breast implants in Vancouver, Dr. Mosher finds a common thread. “Everyone wants to feel good about themselves, and as a plastic surgeon, I can help. My job is to reach out to my patients, to listen to each of them, and work with them to achieve the appearance that allows them to feel comfortable, confident and beautiful.”
To learn more about your surgical and nonsurgical options for cosmetic enhancement, click here to request a consultation with Dr. Mosher, a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Or you can call YES Medspa & Cosmetic Surgery Centre at (604) 888-9378 to schedule your appointment.