A world of new smiles thanks to Dr Fayyaz
Plastic surgeon Dr Ghulam Fayyaz has transformed the lives of more than 80 patients during his time as a volunteer. Patients like Enok, who lived for years his cleft condition.
Dr. Ghulam Qadir Fayyaz, a dedicated plastic surgeon from Pakistan, has made a profound impact on lives worldwide through his work with Operation Smile. With a deep passion for cleft surgery, Dr. Fayyaz has volunteered on 11 Operation Smile surgical programmes, bringing new smiles to countless patients and generously sharing his expertise with his peers.
Dr. Fayyaz’s journey with Operation Smile began in Rwanda, though he was initially scheduled to travel to Guwahati, India. Visa issues led to a change in plans, and fate guided him to Rwanda, where he met Enok, a 22-year-old man who had lived a life of isolation due to a bilateral cleft lip. Enok was encouraged to attend the surgical program by Operation Smile photographer Margherita, who had encountered his story while photographing another patient in his village.
Before the surgery, Dr. Fayyaz met with Enok to reassure him about the procedure. Reflecting on the experience, he shared, “I operated on him for approximately two and a half hours. Perhaps if we had come 22 years earlier, we could have changed his life sooner and helped him avoiding the pain of being bullied and living in the shadows. It was a very terrible situation for him.”
The transformation in Enok’s life after the surgery is nothing short of remarkable. Dr. Fayyaz recalls with pride, “He found love, got married, and now has children. He is living a normal life, and that brings me immense happiness.”
While the impact on patients like Enok is evident, Dr. Fayyaz is equally passionate about the continuous learning that comes from collaborating with colleagues on these surgical programmes. “It’s important to keep moving,” he says. “If we stop attending these programs, we stop learning. We share techniques, learn new ones, and gain fresh perspectives. Sometimes, you think there’s only one way to solve a problem, but a colleague might introduce a different approach. We help patients, but we also learn from each other.”
Dr. Fayyaz’s journey into medicine began in Pakistan, where the competition for medical school is fierce. “You have to score high to gain admission,” he explains. “I started medical school in 1977 and graduated in 1983. After that, I trained in plastic surgery, obtained a diploma in Vienna, completed further specialisation in Pakistan, and received advanced training in cleft surgery in Taiwan.”
The challenges of medical school are not lost on Dr. Fayyaz. “It’s not easy—medical school is not open to everyone. But with passion in our hearts, we can achieve our goals. Once we reach one goal, we must set another. To keep moving forward, we must always aim higher.”
Over the years, Dr. Fayyaz estimates he has operated on more than 200 patients for Operation Smile. “Every patient is a responsibility,” he says. “That patient could be my son, or your brother or sister. They are just one surgery away from a normal life. If we can help them, they might go on to achieve great things—perhaps even greater than you or I.”
Among his many memories, Dr. Fayyaz recalls operating on a colleague’s son, repairing his bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate. Meeting the boy’s father months later, Dr. Fayyaz was delighted to hear how well the boy’s speech had improved, a testament to the life-changing impact of the surgery.
There is no doubt that Dr. Fayyaz has profoundly influenced the lives of many through his skill and dedication. The new smiles he has created and the opportunities for a normal life that he has provided are his greatest rewards, along with the friendships he has forged with volunteers from around the globe.
Dr. Fayyaz’s commitment to continuous improvement is truly inspiring, and we eagerly anticipate hearing more about his future contributions to the world of cleft surgery.