Plastic Surgery Documentary “Saving Face” Wins Academy Award

The Pakistani documentary film “Saving Face,” which uncovers the story of hundreds of people, mostly women, who become acid attack victims, was honored with the Oscar award for best documentary (short) at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony last week.

Directed by Daniel Junge and Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, “Saving Face” follows several survivors and narrates the tale of their fight for justice and a Pakistani plastic surgeon who has returned to his homeland to help them restore their faces and their lives.

In 2010, at least 8,000 acid attacks, forced marriages, and other forms of violence against women were reported, according to The Aurat Foundation, a local nonprofit. Because the group relied mostly on media reports, the figure is likely undercounted.

As surgeons at The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction, we are often faced with performing life-saving surgery, particularly using microsurgery techniques. This includes deformations following illness or accidents.

We applaud the recognition of those plastic surgeons who heal and whose ranks we are proud to be a part of.