Kyrgyzstan Boy with Facial Burns Regains Smile at Seoul Asan Medical Center

3rd-Degree Burn on Half of Face... Local Hospital 'Gave Up Surgery'
Underwent Nose Reconstruction Surgery at Seoul Asan Medical Center
Asan Foundation and Hospital Fully Support Treatment Costs

Seoul Asan Medical Center announced on the 19th that Alinur (8, male), a facial burn patient whom they met while volunteering in Kyrgyzstan, successfully underwent two major surgeries in Korea to remove burn scars and reconstruct his nose using forehead skin.

Seoul Asan Medical Center announced on the 19th that Alinur (8, male), a facial burn patient they met while volunteering in Kyrgyzstan, successfully underwent two major surgeries in Korea to remove burn scars and reconstruct his nose using forehead skin. Alinur's father, Alinur, and Choi Jong-woo, a professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery at Seoul Asan Medical Center, are taking a commemorative photo. (From left)
[Photo by Seoul Asan Medical Center]

Kyrgyzstan is a country located in the northeastern part of Central Asia. About 80% of its land consists of high mountainous areas, and due to its complex terrain, transportation is inconvenient. Additionally, the medical environment is very poor, making it difficult for residents to receive proper treatment in a timely manner.

In June 2021, Alinur’s family, living in a rural village in Manas, Kyrgyzstan, was boiling a chemical liquid used for home repairs. While the family was momentarily inattentive, Alinur playfully threw a stone into the stove. The chemical liquid splashed everywhere, covering Alinur’s entire face. As a result of the accident, Alinur suffered third-degree burns on the central part of his face. The burn sequelae caused permanent deformity, including a distorted nose shape.

The only hospital available for treatment in Alinur’s rural village was about 40 km away from his home. Although it was not a hospital specializing in burn treatment, Alinur’s family urgently sought medical help there. Fortunately, his eyesight was not affected, but due to the poor local medical environment, the hospital could only provide simple treatments to prevent the scar from worsening. Alinur’s family paid about one-third of their monthly salary each time for treatment, but his facial scars showed little improvement.

Local medical staff said that surgery to treat the scars could only be performed after the patient turned 14 years old, meaning Alinur would have to wait more than eight years. Moreover, since the surgery was a large-scale procedure requiring general anesthesia and a total of four operations, the medical staff expressed a lack of confidence in performing the surgery. Alinur’s family was disheartened by the fact that there was no way to treat the burn scars covering his face.

Alinur’s burn area became very itchy when exposed to sunlight, and psychologically, he became withdrawn, reducing the number of times he went outside. He lived a reclusive life, building walls between himself and the outside world.

About two years later, in July, Alinur’s family heard news that medical staff from Korea were offering free medical services. The overseas medical volunteer team from Seoul Asan Medical Center had come to the Bishkek area, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, for a three-day medical volunteer activity starting July 16. A total of 46 medical personnel from Seoul Asan Medical Center, including 15 doctors and 22 nurses, participated in the Kyrgyzstan medical volunteer program, treating over 2,500 patients in three days.

Professor Seo Hyun-seok of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Seoul Asan Medical Center, who examined Alinur at the time, said, "Since the burn area was on the face, I thought treatment was absolutely necessary considering the child’s functional, aesthetic, and psychological aspects. Because it is a complex surgery that cannot be completed in a single operation, I judged that it would be better to transfer him to Korea for treatment." Alinur’s family immediately decided to go to Korea upon hearing that he could receive treatment at Seoul Asan Medical Center.

Upon arriving in Korea on the 9th of last month, Alinur immediately visited Seoul Asan Medical Center, where he underwent all the necessary detailed examinations for surgery. The medical team confirmed that surgery was possible. The full cost of Alinur’s treatment was supported by the Asan Foundation and Seoul Asan Medical Center.

On the 13th of the same month, Professor Choi Jong-woo’s plastic surgery team at Seoul Asan Medical Center successfully performed the first surgery to reconstruct Alinur’s nose using a forehead flap. This major surgery lasted four hours and involved removing the burn scar tissue and reconstructing the nose using forehead skin, which closely matched the color and texture of the face. After a three-week engraftment period, the second surgery to separate the transplanted flap from the forehead was successfully completed on the 6th. The transplanted flap had engrafted over three weeks, allowing normal and independent blood flow even in the previously burned skin.

Alinur said, "Since the burn, I didn’t want people to see my face. The only fun I had was playing alone while looking at the world map in my room." He added, "Thanks to the doctors at Seoul Asan Medical Center who gave me a beautiful face again, I want to play a lot with my friends this Christmas, and when I grow up, I want to travel to the countries I saw on the world map." Alinur is scheduled to return home on the 20th.

Professor Choi Jong-woo, who performed Alinur’s surgery, said, "Despite his young age, Alinur endured the major surgery well. As time passes, the reconstructed area will become more natural, so I hope he forgets the pain of the burn and grows up healthy and wonderful as an adult."

Meanwhile, the overseas medical volunteer team of Seoul Asan Medical Center has been conducting volunteer activities in regions with poor medical environments under the founding philosophy of ‘helping the most vulnerable neighbors in our society.’ The volunteer team has carried out 53 volunteer activities in 14 countries so far.

Seoul Asan Medical Center announced on the 19th that Alinur (8, male), a facial burn patient they met while volunteering in Kyrgyzstan, successfully underwent two major surgeries in Korea to remove burn scars and reconstruct his nose using forehead skin. Alinur (6th from the left) and Professor Choi Jong-woo of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Seoul Asan Medical Center (7th from the left) are taking a photo with the medical team before returning home.
[Photo by Seoul Asan Medical Center]

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