About Operation Smile

Every 3 minutes,

a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate and may suffer from

HUNGER & THIRST

DIFFICULTY WITH SPEECH

SOCIAL ISOLATION

We envision a future where health and dignity are improved through safe surgery.

Founded in Virginia, U.S in 1982, Operation Smile is an international medical charity that has provided free, safe and high-quality surgeries for more than 308,000 children who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformities in developing countries.

Medical Missions

General Process

Children, parents and family have traveled – some for hours or days
– by car, by bus or by foot to be here, at an Operation Smile medical mission.

They’re hopeful. They’re anxious.

And for some, this day couldn’t have come sooner.

Patients and parents arrive at mission site.

Medical Missions

Volunteer Team

Over the years, we’ve perfected the medical mission model. On an international mission, medical and nonmedical volunteers from around the world come together and work seamlessly to deliver exceptional care to our patients.