Severe facial disfigurement can arise from fires and accidents, or as a result of birth defects or cancer. Those who are facially disfigured often undergo severe personality problems, on top of physical pain, because of reaction to their appearance.
Every year in the UK, some 10,000 patients are admitted to burns units, and some 900 babies are born with cleft palates or cleft lips. Accidents and cancers disfigured hundreds of others. 40% of adult burn victims had severe psychological problems two years after leaving hospital, and 75% of burned children showed serious emotional and behavioural disturbance.