This doctor puts a smile on children's faces

Manila, Philippines -  One professional who finds absolute fulfillment in doing something for others using his skills is aesthetic/plastic surgeon Dr. Laurence Loh who found his calling to help out children with facial deformities by supporting Operation Smile, an international non-profit organization that aims to heal children’s smile by providing safe, effective reconstructive surgery for children born with facial deformities.

A medical professional with a heart of gold, Dr. Loh helps put back the smile and confidence in the lives of children afflicted with cleft palate, cleft lip, and other facial deformities.

The Operation Smile beneficiaries are truly in good hands as Loh is one of few accredited plastic surgeons in the Philippines and is currently a member of the prestigious Philippine Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, Inc. (PAPRAS), a national association of plastic surgeons, where he is currently national secretary. A graduate of UP College of Medicine with a fellowship in craniofacial and microvascular surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School-Norfolk, he has operated in more than 200 cleft lip and palate missions both locally and internationally.

His wealth of experience includes being chief of the Plastic Surgery Section of Jose Reyes Medical Center as well as being assistant chief of the Plastic Surgery Department of St. Luke’s Medical Center. He was also a training officer in plastic surgery at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and a board examiner at Philippine Board of Plastic Surgery.

“Life is just more meaningful when God-given abilities and the skills you’ve developed are put into good use. I have a particular sense of advocacy for the kids of Operation Smile because it only takes over 20 minutes to perform a surgery that would change their lives. I intend to give back,” Dr. Loh shares.

Dr. Loh is currently shuttling between his advocacy, medical duties, and private practice at his newly-opened Lips Institute of Plastic Surgery (LIPS) clinic in Quezon City.