The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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After eight years of hiding her face behind bandages, 51-year-old Dormitila Yula has finally regained her confidence, thanks to a groundbreaking reconstructive procedure performed at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Her ordeal began in 2017 when a small pimple on her nostril turned into a stubborn wound that refused to heal. What seemed like a minor issue soon escalated into a severe infection, leading to a diagnosis of Squamous Cell Carcinoma — a form of skin cancer — in 2020.
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Dormitila underwent multiple surgeries, radiotherapy sessions, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, eventually beating cancer but losing part of her nose in the process. The physical and emotional scars left her covering her face in public for years.
In 2024, a multidisciplinary team at KNH took up her case to help restore both her appearance and self-esteem. Using advanced digital planning, surgeons designed a custom silicone nasal prosthesis anchored with zygomatic implants — titanium screws placed in the cheekbones for stability.
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After two months of preparation, the six-hour surgery was successfully performed on September 10, 2025, making Dormitila the first patient in Kenya to undergo a zygomatic implant-retained nasolabial prosthesis procedure.
Led by consultant maxillofacial surgeons Dr. Adeline Vilembwa and Dr. Andrew Okiriamu, alongside prosthodontist Dr. Margaret Mwasha, the surgery marked a major milestone in Kenyan medical innovation.
Overjoyed with the results, Dormitila expressed her gratitude:
“KNH has given me a new lease on life. For eight years, I hid in shame — now I can smile, walk freely, and even sing in my church choir again.”
Her story stands as a powerful symbol of resilience, compassion, and Kenya’s advancing expertise in reconstructive surgery — a true triumph of medical science and human spirit.
