Mr. Haneef’s Journey After Cleft Lip Surgery

Mr. Haneef spent 58 years of his life living with a facial deformity caused by a cleft lip. Throughout his childhood and youth, he faced social stigma and emotional hardship. He recalls that he was rarely treated with honor or respect by peers and often felt ignored in family discussions and gatherings. Over time, this deeply affected his confidence, and he gradually withdrew from social interactions.

Despite these challenges, Haneef worked diligently as a security guard at a State Life company, earning a livelihood for his family through dedication and perseverance while silently fighting the hardships of living with an untreated cleft lip.

The Turning Point

A life-changing moment came when an officer at State Life referred Haneef to Dr. Irfan Ishaq for corrective surgery. After meeting the doctor, Haneef made the courageous decision to undergo surgery—hoping to leave behind years of emotional pain and social isolation.

A Life Transformed

After the operation, Haneef says his life changed completely. He now shares his story with joy, recalling how the surgery transformed his everyday experiences.

One day, while on duty, a relative came to meet him. To Haneef’s surprise, his relative could not recognize him and kept asking others about his whereabouts—even though Haneef was standing right in front of him. Laughing, Haneef asked, “What’s the matter?” His relative, Bashir, replied that he was searching for Haneef. Smiling, Haneef said, “Brother, I am Haneef.” Bashir was shocked and asked, “What have you done? I couldn’t recognize you!” Haneef explained that he had undergone cleft lip surgery, and both shared a moment of relief and happiness.

In another instance, Haneef visited a bank to collect his monthly salary. The bank manager also struggled to recognize him. Following the procedure, the manager asked him to remove his mask and show his face to match his identity documents. After checking his CNIC multiple times, the manager asked, “Is this really your CNIC?” Haneef calmly explained that he had recently undergone cleft lip surgery, which had changed his appearance.

Living with Dignity and Respect

Today, Mr. Haneef expresses heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Irfan Ishaq’s team and Smile Train. He says that after surgery, he now lives with the dignity, confidence, and respect in society that he had waited decades to experience.