Faces of Honor is an offshoot of Face-to-Face, an organization that provides pro-bono plastic surgery to individuals born with, or afflicted with, facial deformities, in order to help them live a normal life. Since its foundation in 1992, Face to Face has provided free plastic surgery throughout the United States and abroad, helping to eliminate or lessen the physical limitations imposed by severe face, head and neck injuries and deformities. Their efforts have succeeded in helping thousands of people lead more normal lives with increased self-confidence and reduced impairment.



Faces of Honor has the same noble goal: to help soldiers who were scarred, lost facial function or sustained facial fractures in Iraq or Afghanistan to erase the visual battle scars left behind by their sacrifice and service.

The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery pioneers the efforts of Faces of Honor, pairing injured vets with plastic surgeons like Dr. Edward Kwak of Manhattan, who specialize in facial plastic and remonstrative surgery. The board certified plastic surgeons involved in the program offer complimentary treatment, revising scars, repairing fractures to the face or jaw, and/or restoring function to the eyes, nose, mouth.

Dr. Kwak reports that his "goal for participating in the Faces of Honor Program is to help these veterans recover lost function or better erase these physical reminders." A facial injury sustained in war is a constant reminder of the trauma experienced, and it is hoped that by removing these physical reminders, veterans will be able to better recover mentally as well as physically from the injuries they suffered in the line of duty.

Kwak's motivation is likely shared by many of the plastic surgeons involved in the generous humanitarian effort. As Kwak said, "as a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, I wanted to express my appreciation to these individuals who have made incredible sacrifices for me, my loved ones, and this country." It is a generous gesture from a plastic surgery industry that provides not only physical improvements, but improvements in self-esteem and well-being for countless recipients.