Evening Standard Press Coverage

To read an overview to the Katie Piper Foundation and my work with Katie in the field of Burns Reconstruction, please click on the image above. This clipping was taken from the Evening Standard on 13th July, 2010.

Many thanks - Mohammad

Acid attack model Katie Piper says: 'I wouldn't want my old face back now.. the good outweighs the bad' - mirror.co.uk

She's the woman Simon Cowell calls his inspiration – and hearing her story, it’s easy to see why.

Former model and aspiring TV presenter Katie Piper – scarred by a vicious acid attack orchestrated by her ex-boyfriend – has turned herself from victim to victor. Katie, 26, this week launched her own charity, The Katie Piper Foundation, to raise money and awareness for advanced burns and scar treatment. And today she describes how she won the backing of The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent judge Cowell, 50.

Click here for the full story, as published by the the Mirror.co.uk

Or click here to find out more about Katie's burns reconstruction surgeon, Mr Mohammad Jawad.

Jawad features on Katie Piper Foundation website...

Mr Mohammad Jawad has taken part in a photoshoot for the Katie Piper Foundation's website: www.katiepiperfoundation.co.uk

As one of the charity's 3 trustees, Mr Jawad has been of great support to Katie - not only during the burns reconstruction surgery which followed her brutal acid attack, but in the time following her treatment. He is delighted to see the charity officially launch and is pleased to play a continual role in supporting and contributing to burns reconstruction programmes in the UK.

Further information about Mr Jawad's work in the field of burns reconstruction, plastic and cosmetic surgery can be found by visiting www.nipntucksurgery.co.uk

The Katie Piper Foundation officially launches!

The Katie Piper Foundation officially launched with Simon Cowell as its first patron, it was announced today.

Katie Piper has set up the charity which aims to establish an advanced burn and scar management and rehabilitation clinic in the UK accessible to anybody who would benefit from specialised treatments. When Katie was attacked with sulphuric acid she received outstanding treatment and physiotherapy at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and then travelled to Centre Ster in Lamalou where she spent five, three-week intensive blocks of non-surgical treatment.

Her weeks of nine to five daily treatments included intensive deep tissue massage, one-to-one specially adapted exercises with a physiotherapist, endomology machines that work to soften the skin and make it more malleable, hydrotherapy and high pressure water jet therapy, and silicone treatments alongside pressure garments.

She believes that the non-surgical treatment she received there was a critical contributor to her recovery and over time her scars became soft, supple and pale. Her skin grew more flexible and her face began to feel like her own again.

Another important part of the treatment for Katie was being in a supportive environment shared by people going through a similar experience. This was instrumental in showing her that she could beat her scars and it taught her to believe that she could stop them from cocooning her. The structure of a daily routine also meant she had a reason to get up in the morning at a time when she needed it most, which really helped her regain control of her life. Katie said: “I want the clinic to be a place where people can learn to overcome the psychological barriers of living with disfigurement and concentrate on rebuilding their lives.

“The NHS does provide some methods for scar management but unfortunately cannot provide intense block therapy using all methods under one roof in a rehabilitation environment. There also isn’t anywhere in the UK to receive endomology for treatment of burns and scars – the machines are currently licensed for use as a beauty treatment for cellulite but I want to introduce them to the UK as a scar management treatment.”

When Katie told her story on Channel 4’s documentary Katie: My Beautiful Face, she was overwhelmed with messages of support from members of the public, fellow burns survivors, businesses and high profile people alike. One person who contacted her privately after he had seen the programme was Simon Cowell.

Over the past seven months Simon has become hugely supportive of Katie’s aims and is honoured to be its first patron. Simon said: “Katie is one of the most inspiring people I have met. She is brave, talented and determined and I think what she is doing with The Katie Piper Foundation is incredible.”

Simon joins the charity’s three trustees, Mr Mohammed Ali Jawad FRCS, the reconstructive and cosmetic surgeon who performed pioneering surgery to rebuild Katie’s face and her medical adviser who identified Lamalou as key to Katie’s recovery; Ros Ponder, media adviser and television producer; and Martin Dix – commercial advisor with years of experience in accelerated growth or rapid roll-out enterprise.

The launch also sees the official unveiling of the Foundation’s new logos and website. The brand identity was devised by The Clearing and Director of Consulting and Founder, Richard Buchanan, says: “We wanted to find a new way of branding a charity that didn’t solely rely on emotional or shock tactics that many charities deploy. Katie’s story is shocking when you hear it for the first time but what touches people about Katie is her amazing positivity and infectious personality - and it was this that we wanted capture within the brand. “The Foundation’s intention is to provide the positive energy that’s required to help reconnect disfigured people with their lives, their communities and feel good about tomorrow. “That’s why we created the ‘Love from Katie &’ campaign. It’s about a group of people who have come together through the Katie Piper Foundation to provide the tangible and emotional support that these people so desperately need and deserve.”


Her website, www.katiepiperfoundation.org.uk was designed by Tribal DDB and it has at its core aims to provide information and inspiration to burns survivors. Katie hopes the website and the Foundation can become a source of support for other burns victims and develop into a space where people can exchange views, ask advice and share their experiences.

She explains: “When I was recovering I looked on the internet for information and support, there wasn’t anything that I felt described me or that could support me without making me fell labelled and defined as a burns victim.”

Katie is a trained beauty therapist and loves fashion – she aims to offer non-medical advice to empower people and build up burns survivor’s confidence by showing them how to look and feel their best again. This will include professional lessons on camouflage makeup and hair styling as well as a mentorship program that brings burns survivors together to support each other. Katie continues: “Beauty is made up of many qualities, if you believe in yourself and hold your head up high will radiate a contagious beauty.

“Beauty used to mean to me being the person with the best figure, the prettiest person walking into a room – that’s what I thought beauty was. But I have realised that is was nothing - it was a false and superficial view.

“I feel more beautiful and confident by having people around me who believe in me and encourage me. As I was recovering the feeling of support rubbed off on me and I began to believe in myself. Gradually I started to walk tall and I came out of my shell. I hope by sharing experiences the Katie Piper Foundation can help other disfigured people to build in confidence, to stand tall and feel beautiful too.”

For more information, pictures or interviews please contact Plank PR on 020 8995 3936 or lou@plankpr.com or visit www.katiepiperfoundation.org.uk