Financial Help for Cosmetic and Craniofacial Surgery for Children

For children disfigured by birth defects or abuse, there are sources of help for cosmetic and craniofacial surgery.  One of the oldest organizations that provides surgical help for children, regardless of their ability to pay, is the Shriner’s Hospitals.  The range of their coverage includes cleft lips and palates, burns and orthopedics.  For more information, call 800-237-5055 .

Fresh Start is a nonprofit created to help children with deformities that are congenital, or caused by abuse or accident who are less than 17 years old, and are uninsured or underinsured.  Here’s a list of procedures that can be performed.    Children around the world are eligible for help, but the applications are separate—be sure to pick the right one.  Their toll-free number is 888-551-1003.

Little Baby Face Foundation provides surgery for a number of children’s conditions, including ear canal deformities, jaw deformities, buck teeth, TMJ surgery, hearing restoration surgery and more.  Call 212.333.LBFF  for more information.

Operation Smile, the worldwide organization that provides corrective facial surgery for children around the world, also has a page on sources of assistance for American kids.  The United States page lists organizations and support groups dealing with craniofacial deformities, some of whom have information on insurance issues, financial support and other sources of information.