Recommended Video
Scars carry far more than the tissue that once broke and mended. In the Philippines, the Belo Medical Group has turned its attention toward these marks through an initiative that reaches well beyond surface concerns. Led by Dr. Vicki Belo and Dr. Hayden Kho, The Scar Project aims to provide free, long-term, comprehensive reconstructive treatment to individuals enduring severe, life-altering scars—whether from burns, accidents, or congenital conditions like facial clefts.
Nearly eight hundred submissions arrived from across the country. And from that overwhelming wave of stories, seven individuals were chosen for this initial phase.
RELATED: Inside Belo Neurocosmetics and How It’s Changing the Way We Think About Skin
The Heart Behind Belo Medical Group’s The Scar Project
Kirsten Sofia Barin, now twenty, was born with multiple facial clefts that left portions of her cheekbones, lips, and surrounding structures underdeveloped. While childhood operations offered initial help, the remaining asymmetry proved difficult to correct through standard methods, and navigating existing scar tissue added another layer of complexity.
Dr. Dax Pascasio, the lead maxillofacial surgeon, guided the procedure to restore her underlying facial structure with a level of detail not previously documented in similar domestic cases. The Belo Medical Group team completed the reconstruction using a custom 3D-printed, high-density polyethylene implant, shaped precisely to fit Barin’s anatomy.
Equally moving is the story of Sophia Abalon, an eight-year-old whose bright spirit naturally draws people in. A house fire claimed members of her family and left her with extensive burn scars and contractures that limit her physical movement. Yet, despite everything she has already endured, Sophia maintains a joyful outlook. When asked about her dreams, she speaks simply of dancing again.
Her treatment continues with deliberate, careful steps focused on releasing tightness, improving mobility, and supporting her through a prolonged recovery.
These are just two of the inspiring journeys of “The First Seven.” To offer steady encouragement, each recipient has been paired with their own celebrity guardians, including Catriona Gray, Cong TV, Alden Richards, and Iza Calzado.
The Scar Project’s Full Commitment to Restoration
Gina Lorenzana, CEO of the Belo Medical Group, put it plainly: The Scar Project is a complete journey. It requires seamless coordination across disciplines, patience through inevitable setbacks, and a system that refuses to abandon patients once the surgeries are over.
Dr. Hayden Kho, who helped conceptualize the project prior to its 2024 launch, has watched it grow into something far larger than originally envisioned. Both he and Dr. Vicki Belo have shared just how deeply personal and meaningful this initiative is to them.
In following these seven lives, it becomes clear how tightly the physical body and the sense of self remain bound. The Scar Project cannot promise to erase every trace of hardship, but it can create the space for people to move through the world with greater ease and self-assurance. As treatments progress for the initial recipients, the work points toward a hopeful future: one where compassion paired with clinical excellence can transform individual paths and reshape the possibilities of reconstructive care nationwide.
For anyone carrying their own scars, visible or hidden, transformation remains within reach, day by day. No mark has to dictate the future, and healing can open the door to a life lived entirely on one’s own terms.
To learn more about The Scar Project by Belo Medical Group, visit beloscarproject.com
Photos: BELO MEDICAL GROUP
Frequently Asked Questions
Led by Dr. Vicki Belo and Dr. Hayden Kho, The Scar Project is a philanthropic initiative that provides free, long-term, and comprehensive reconstructive treatment to individuals enduring severe, life-altering scars. The program focuses on survivors of severe burns, traumatic accidents, or congenital conditions like facial clefts, offering deep physical and emotional restoration.
The initiative received an overwhelming wave of nearly eight hundred submissions from hopeful applicants all over the country. From that extensive pool of nationwide stories, seven individuals were carefully selected to become the initial recipients, affectionately known as “The First Seven.”
To correct severe asymmetry caused by multiple congenital facial clefts, lead maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Dax Pascasio performed a highly advanced reconstruction. The medical team utilized a custom 3D-printed, high-density polyethylene implant that was digitally shaped and molded to perfectly fit the precise contours of Barin’s unique facial anatomy.
Sophia Abalon suffered extensive burn scars and severe contractures from a tragic house fire, which significantly limit her physical movement. Her specialized multi-step treatment focuses on surgically releasing the skin tightness to drastically improve her mobility, supporting her lifelong dream of being able to dance again.
To ensure the recipients have steady encouragement during their prolonged recovery journeys, The Scar Project paired each individual with a dedicated celebrity guardian. This supportive lineup includes high-profile public figures Catriona Gray, Cong TV, Alden Richards, and Iza Calzado.
Latest Posts
Latest Issue
