Having had to live behind bandages for eight years, 51-year-old Dormitila Yula has finally stepped out with new hope after a pioneering medical procedure at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), becoming Kenya’s first recipient of a zygomatic implant-retained nasolabial prosthesis.
Dormitila’s medical nightmare began innocuously in 2017 when she noticed a small pimple on her nose. Already beset with chronic nasal obstruction, she dismissed the mark as something unimportant. But when she popped it, the sores stubbornly refused to heal, which started a debilitating chain of events that would forever alter her life.
Medical specialists at KNH discovered a growth in her nasal passage through comprehensive testing. Surgeons first performed reconstructive surgery, removing skin from her forehead and bone from her rib to rebuild portions of her nose. While the procedure gave her temporary relief, a chronic infection spread into her right eye and nostril and complicated her recovery.
The situation deteriorated significantly by 2020. Further medical examination provided the horrific diagnosis: Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a severe form of skin cancer. This sent Dormitila into years of aggressive treatment that would exhaust every ounce of her strength.
Her cancer treatment journey involved two major plastic and vascular surgeries performed by Dr. Adeline Vilembwa, Dr. Benjamin Wabwire, and Dr. Loice Kahoro. Doctors followed these procedures with 33 intense radiotherapy sessions and 40 days of hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The dual therapy successfully eliminated the cancer, but life-saving surgeries left her with visible facial scars that cut deep into her confidence and social life.
For years, Dormitila covered her face in public, avoiding eye contact and withdrawing from social interactions. The psychological weight was tremendous until 2024, when KNH’s multidisciplinary team committed to restoring not just her physical self, but also her dignity and self-worth.
The specialists designed a custom-made silicone prosthesis that mimicked the natural shape of her nose. They anchored this prosthesis with zygomatic implants: titanium supports implanted directly into her cheekbones.
The complex, computer-planned surgery required two months of meticulous preparation and a six-hour procedure.
On September 10, 2025, medical history unfolded as Dormitila became Kenya’s first patient to receive this innovative facial reconstruction. Dr. Vilembwa and Dr. Andrew Okiriamu, both consultant maxillofacial and oral surgeons, led the procedure alongside Dr. Margaret Mwasha, a consultant prosthodontist.
“KNH has given me a new lease on life,” Dormitila declared. “For eight years, I hid my face in shame. But now, I have a new nose. I can walk freely, work, and sing in my church choir again. I’m forever grateful.”
