NAIROBI, Kenya — Surgeons at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) have achieved a major medical milestone after successfully performing Kenya’s first-ever nasal reconstruction using a zygomatic implant-retained nasal prosthesis — a groundbreaking innovation in reconstructive surgery.
According to a statement released by the hospital on Tuesday, October 28, the procedure was performed on 51-year-old Dormitila Yula, who had lived for eight years without part of her nose following a cancer diagnosis.
“What began as a small pimple on her nose in 2017 turned into a painful journey of surgeries, infections, and a cancer diagnosis that left her without part of her nose and without confidence,” KNH said in the statement.
After surviving cancer, Dormitila faced years of emotional and social isolation — until a multidisciplinary team of surgeons and prosthodontists at KNH designed a custom-made silicone prosthesis, anchored securely to her cheekbones using zygomatic implants.
The six-hour procedure restored Dormitila’s facial structure and confidence.
“I can finally face the world,” she said, smiling after the surgery.
KNH described the successful operation as a historic moment for Kenyan reconstructive surgery, underscoring the hospital’s growing role in pioneering advanced medical interventions previously only available abroad.
The innovation blends surgical precision and prosthetic design, using implant technology to securely support facial prostheses — a major advancement for patients affected by trauma, cancer, or congenital deformities.
This breakthrough follows another landmark procedure at KNH last week, when surgeons performed an 11-hour operation to remove more than 20 kilograms of breast tissue from 17-year-old Lydia Musivi, who suffered from a rare condition known as gigantomastia.
The surgery, which KNH said is among the largest of its kind globally, freed Lydia from a debilitating condition that had forced her out of school and caused severe physical and emotional pain.
“The weight is now over. I feel free, lighter, and ready to return to school. I can finally live the life I was meant to live,” Lydia said after the operation.
KNH’s Acting CEO, Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, lauded the two surgeries as evidence of Kenya’s growing medical innovation and capacity to deliver complex, life-changing procedures locally.
“These milestones demonstrate that world-class medical breakthroughs are happening right here in Kenya. We are solving local health challenges with global standards of innovation and compassion,” Dr. Lesiyampe stated.
The two successful surgeries mark a defining moment in Kenya’s medical history, positioning KNH as a regional hub for advanced surgical care and medical innovation.
