RESTORE Worldwide Inc., a foundation for reconstructive surgery, lead by United States (US)-based Ghanaian Surgeon, Dr. Michael K. Obeng, has successfully completed over 100 free surgeries at the Ho Teaching Hospital within five days.
Dr. Obeng and his team of voluntary health professionals embarked on this tremendous humanitarian mission which lasted five surgery days on November 6, 2023, and painstakingly ensured all the patients scheduled for the procedure are attended to by the last day which was November 10, 2023.
The globally recognized non-profit organization, RESTORE Worldwide, returned to Ghana for this 35th global mission a year after achieving a record-breaking 174 life-changing interventions in October 2022.
The primary objective of aim was to continue RESTORE’s mission of transforming lives and restoring hope by conducting free reconstructive surgeries across the world. The team, consisting of volunteer expert Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, Surgical Technicians, and Nurses from the United States, France, Germany, Belgium, Morocco, Ghana, Mali, and the United Kingdom.
The team addressed a wide range of cases, including congenital deformities, post-traumatic deformities, post-burn contractures, soft tissue tumors, benign or malignant, all breast anomalies, soft tissue defects, and genital anomalies. These conditions had the potential to significantly impact a person’s quality of life, affecting their ability to perform everyday tasks and participate fully in society.
Founder and CEO of RESTORE, Dr. Michael K. Obeng, a Harvard-trained surgeon renowned for his expertise in plastic and reconstructive surgery, led this diverse and highly skilled team of medical professionals from around the world. They brought their specialized knowledge and experience and provided the highest quality care to patients throughout the mission.
Additionally, the medical mission also provided capacity building and knowledge transfer to local medical professionals through training and mentorship programmes.
“We are honoured to bring together a global team of medical professionals who share a common goal of making a positive impact on the lives of individuals with deformities. Our mission extends beyond providing surgical interventions; it is about restoring hope, dignity, and improving the overall well-being of our patients,” said Dr.Obeng.
He added that RESTORE recognizes the importance of collaborative partnerships and welcomes the support of local organisations, government agencies, and volunteers who share their vision of transforming lives through reconstructive surgery.
The Foundation for Reconstructive Surgery
RESTORE is an acronym that stands for Restoring Emotional Stability Through Outstanding Reconstructive Efforts. It is a non-profit medical service organization in the United States of America that provides free reconstructive surgeries and related medical services to children and adults with disfiguring deformities from birth, accidents and diseases involving not only the head and neck region, but also the trunk, breasts, extremities, and genitalia.
It was founded in 2008 by Ghanaian-American Harvard University-trained plastic surgeon, humanitarian, and global health strategist, Dr. Michael K. Obeng. He is the Director of MiKO Plastic Surgery and MiKO Surgery Center in Beverly Hills, California.
As part of its mission, RESTORE also educates and trains local medical professionals on the latest techniques and safety measures in plastic and reconstructive surgery, effecting change long after the RESTORE team leaves these communities.
RESTORE has conducted US$100 million worth of surgeries to date. The organization has changed 1,900+ lives, in three or more medical mission trips conducted annually.
