Avivo Group, one of the fastest growing healthcare organizations in the GCC, announced the launch of Breasthetica – a social impact campaign for breast cancer survivors in the UAE providing Post Cancer Breast Aesthetic Surgery.

The campaign aims to help breast cancer survivors in the country through their recovery process by offering three women free breast aesthetic surgeries. After a mastectomy, breast aesthetic surgery can make a woman feel better about how she looks and can renew her self-confidence. The aesthetic surgeries will be performed by Avivo’s renowned team of board-certified plastic surgeons, giving hope to women who desire to look their original self but don’t have the resources to have the surgery.

Commenting on the Breasthetica campaign, Dr. Dilshaad Ali, Group CEO, Avivo Group, said: “Breast cancer is a tough battle to fight; physically, emotionally and psychologically. Through Breasthetica we not only want to spread awareness about the disease, but we also want to empower women to regain their confidence, and have happy and fulfilled lives, like everyone else”.

“Breasthetica is Avivo’s contribution to society. Besides providing access to such specialized surgery to deserving patients, we see this as an opportunity for us to raise awareness that there is life after cancer, especially when detected early.”

Breasthetica will be led by Aesthetica Clinic Dubai – an AVIVOGroup Enterprise that focuses on anti-aging, aesthetic medicine and plastic surgical procedures.

Deserving candidates will be chosen by an independent medical committee comprising internationally renowned team of Surgeons and independent representatives from leading UAE Healthcare entities . The program will support the candidates throughout the pre-selection process, pre-surgery, surgery and follow up aftercare that will run continuously for a lifetime.

According to the Journal of Cancer Prevention & Current Research published by MedCrave in June 2018, breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in females among UAE citizens (32.16%) as well as Non- UAE citizens (41.41%).  Additionally, females in the UAE have the tendency to develop breast cancer at least a decade earlier than their counterparts in western countries.

Another report published in September 2018 by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggests a total of 1,054 (22.4 per cent) cases of breast cancer were found in 2018 in UAE alone, that count for 22.4% of all cancer cases, making it the worst case among women.

Dr. Laila Al Jassmi, Advisor Breasthetica initiative said: “This year alone, over 4,500 people in the UAE were diagnosed with cancer, and within that more than 20 percent were breast cancer cases. This should give us an idea of how essential it is for every woman over the age of 40 to go for regular screening. Early breast cancer detection allows for more treatment options and better chances of survival.  The UAE government is also making strident efforts to promote early detection through different health authorities in the UAE.  Through Breasthetica, we want to complement the government efforts in raising awareness in the country and play our role towards early detection and curing breast cancer.”

Dr. Mario Russo, Director Medical Affairs, Aesthetica Clinic, said: “Aesthetica clinic aims to raise breast aesthetic surgery awareness in the UAE by educating women that they can rebuild their self-confidence through permanent aesthetic based procedures. The psycho-social aspect of recovery has often been related to the physical appearance post cancer treatment. Globally, breast cancer awareness campaigns have been very successful but post-mastectomy recovery has yet to gain awareness.  Breast aesthetic surgeries in post-mastectomy women can play a critical role in aiding recovery, well-being and improving self-confidence. 

“Our role at Aesthetica is to use the best and most advanced means and resources needed to make people look beautiful for breast cancer survivors, to help them feel complete, gorgeous and happy,” he added.